Banksy tags wall next to Yankee Stadium with piece called 'Bronx Zoo'

As Banksy's month-long takeover of New York's streets entered its final day Thursday, the so-called graffiti artist headed over to Yankee Stadium and left one of his celebrated tags across the street from The House That Jeter Built last night.

The work, according to his website, is called Bronx Zoo and is located across the street from the baseball stadium at East 162nd Street and Jerome Avenue. 

As fatigued as I am of this Brit taking over my city for 30 days and, as a Yankee fan, it's been equally as tiring to watch the Red Sox strut through the playoffs towards a World Series title at the same time.

So this is the only pinstripe story I could find without centering on A-Rod or Big Papi.

Banksy's wildcat stencil seems to have graffiti tags instead of spots and sits on a yellow line of paint over a peeling wall once coated with Yankee Stadium blue. It looks kind of like the stadium's outfield wall.

Gothamist speculated that the work's location and title may refer to the fact that Yankees earned the name Bronx Zoo between 1972 and 1981 because of the fighting between George Steinbrenner, Billy Martin, and Reggie Jackson. Banksy can only imagine the gritty city back then — when graffiti wasn't considered art and, spray-paint can or not, he would have been jumped before he reached 161st Street. 

On Wednesday, the artist appeared to be trying to win over New Yorkers by helping to raise money for a local charity with a piece. 

The elusive artist took a painting from a charity shop and added a seated Nazi officer before returning it to the same shop and allowing them to auction it off for a six-figure sum. And on the same day, the bearded Red Sox won the hearts of America.

Who cares? As a real New Yorker, I'm just glad October is over.

Andrew Bynum makes surprise debut for the Cavaliers (VIDEO)

Andrew Bynum made a surprise debut for the Cleveland Cavaliers Wednesday night and received a warm welcome from the home crowd at Quicken Loans Arena.

The center's long-awaited appearance marked his first regular season NBA game in 537 days.

Bynum played 7:34 in the first half against the Brooklyn Nets, going 1-for-5 from the field to finish with three points, three rebounds, two assists and two blocked shots — including an emphatic rejection of Deron Williams.

Knicks, Rangers owner solicits donations from staff for NYC mayoral candidate: Report

New York City mayoral candidate Joe Lhota may be an underdog in the polls (some pollsters are already making the Rocky comparisons), but it's not for a lack of financial support from his former employer at Madison Square Garden.

Sources told the N.Y. Post that MSG/Cablevision head honcho Jim Dolan sent e-mails to his top staffers, asking them to donate $2,500 each to support their former colleague Lhota’s campaign. The Republican candidate was once an executive vice president of Cablevision for five years and, in 2010, he was appointed chief administrative officer at Madison Square Garden.

Though Dolan — no stranger to long-shots himself — sent the e-mail to employees back in March, some were still chuckling about the political solicitation, particularly as Lhota trails about 40 points behind Democratic opponent Bill de Blasio in the polls.

Another source minimized Dolan’s request, telling the Post: “I assume some people did donate, but it was a small thing.”

But remember, Dolan is the same owner who fired an MSG security guard who refused Dolan entry to a VIP suite last year when she didn't recognize her boss. So there has to be some trepidation within the ranks.

However, reports say employees of Cablevision, including those solicited by Dolan, have raised a healthy $94,000 for Lhota’s campaign.

Dumping money into a losing cause sounds about right for ol' Jimmy. 

A rep for MSG declined to comment.

Metta World Peace rode subway to Madison Square Garden for first game as a Knick (Photos)

Metta World Peace rode the subway Wednesday with his childhood friends and fans from the Queensbridge Houses where he grew up to Madison Square Garden where he played his first game as a member of the New York Knicks — the team he dreamed of playing for as a kid named Ron Artest.

"This," he said before boarding the Manhattan-bound subway car, "is something I've always wanted to do."

Here's @MettaWorldPeace with a surprised subway rider on the F train. pic.twitter.com/UuBvT9G4Lb
— Jim Baumbach (@jimbaumbach) October 30, 2013

With his dream of being a Knick finally a reality after 15 years in the NBA, World Peace thought it would only be appropriate to return home to Queensbridge and take the subway to his first regular-season game at the Garden, like he had done so many times as a youngster.

Newsday was there for the 15-minute ride on the F-train:

So a little past 4:30 Wednesday afternoon, World Peace arrived with a few friends on 21st Street and 41st Avenue, an intersection that borders the Queensbridge housing projects where he grew up.

Instantly people who had been milling around the subway steps recognized him. People called out, "Hey, Ron!" — no one calls him Metta around here — and World Peace stopped to shake hands and hug about a dozen people. Someone handed him a phone to talk into.

Through the turnstile, World Peace noticed a crowd was following him, and the platform quickly started to fill. "I've got to get a seat," he said, laughing. "I can't be standing." He did have a basketball game to play in a few hours, after all.

After the train screeched to a stop at 34th Street and Herald Square, a few blocks from the Garden, the well-travelled forward knew his "dysfunctional" life had come full circle.

"This is us," World Peace said as the train stopped, and off he went, keeping it real as only MWP could.

Shane Victorino has already won the MVP — Most Valuable Pedi-wear (Photo)

When you're representing the American League, what could possibly be more American than red, white and blue baseball cleats with stars, stripes and eagles emblazoned on the side? 

While Shane Victorino's shoes certainly are awesome, Ken Rosenthal wondered why the Flyin' Hawaiian wasn't already in his flashy shoes.

#RedSox’s Victorino pondering this footwear tonight. pic.twitter.com/4YRBiTFddC
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) October 30, 2013

Dr. J says dental braces led to conception of his daughter: Report

An outrageous excerpt from Julius "Dr. J" Erving's new autobiography reportedly claims the former NBA superstar conceived daughter Alexandra Stevenson when her mother wasn't able to give him oral sex due to braces on her teeth.

According to Richard Johnson of the N.Y. Post, the Hall of Famer writes in his new book, "Dr. J," he wouldn’t have fathered the 32-year-old professional tennis player if her mother didn't have the bands of mouth metal getting in the way.

Johnson writes in the Page Six section:

The hotly anticipated book is supposed to be under lock and key until its official publication on Tuesday, but I found an early copy at a downtown bookstore.
Erving tells how he met Samantha Stevenson — whom he describes on the page as “a smart single woman — a pretty white girl, a bit of a hippie giving off a vibe of availability” — in 1978 when she was covering the Philadelphia 76ers for Sport magazine.

“She becomes someone who helps me unwind if I’m feeling high-strung or stressed. I can drive over and spend a relaxing evening that might even include oral sex,” Erving writes. “I can only remember one time that we actually had intercourse, and that was because she had just gotten this new orthodontia to straighten her teeth. With wire and gleaming metal bristling in her mouth, oral sex was not an option.”

But Erving, known for his Dante de Blasio-like Afro and his thunderous dunks, felt terrible in 1999 when his and Samantha’s out-of-wedlock daughter — playing in the semifinals at Wimbledon — was caught in a media firestorm over her famous father. 

“I’ve paid a terrible price for my sins and there is some justice in that. But should Alexandra have had to pay a price? What sin did she commit?”

Who knew the "Dr." was for dentistry?

Reggie Jackson's response to question about A-Rod is nearly three minutes of silence (Podcast)

Hall of Famer and New York Yankees legend Reggie Jackson recently appeared on WFAN with hosts Boomer Esiason and Craig Carton, and naturally enough the discussion made its way to current Yankee pariah Alex Rodriguez and his ongoing Biogenesis-related suspension.

During the bizarre Q&A segment,  Carton attempted to engage Jackson on the topic of A-Rod by "leading the witness," but the otherwise outspoken Mr. October would have none of it.

 In fact, Jackson didn't merely spin the question, offer a prepared response or a terse "no comment." Instead, Jackson — who was promoting his book, Becoming Mr.October — offered up almost three minutes of almost total silence after Carton asks him, "Does it [A-Rod's scandal] bother you?"

After almost nothing but the hosts' chatter about Reggie's friend "Al", Jackson still doesn't speak for nearly three minutes until they change the subject. 

Since Jackson in the recent past has been an A-Rod ally of sorts, this silence speaks volumes. Is he worn out over addressing the matter or is it a purging of the friendship. Perhaps both.

As for Jackson, here's about all he would say regarding Rodriguez: “I'm so proud. I can't believe I shut up (about A-Rod).”

You can listen to the entire interview on a podcast here.

[CBS Sports.com]

Cardinals flight delayed for six hours before crucial World Series Game 6

The St. Louis Cardinals were delayed for six hours in advance of Game 6 of the World Series after their team plane got grounded by mechanical problems.

Of course some people had fun blaming the delay on an obstruction by Will Middlebrooks.

Quick somebody photoshop Will Middlebrooks in front of the #Cardinals team charter as it sits on a runway. #WorldSeries #stlcards #redsox
— Derrick Goold (@dgoold) October 29, 2013

Here you go.. @dgoold Quick somebody photoshop Will Middlebrooks in front of the #Cardinals team charter #worldseries pic.twitter.com/NgIGGX5IUh
— nick osterholt (@nicko5150) October 29, 2013

The players and their families kept their cool and a sense of humor while they lingered on the tarmac at St. Lambert Airport in St. Louis.

"Everyone is just watching movies," Michael Wacha said from the plane, a couple of hours into the delay.

"But everybody seems to be doing all right. We're fortunate that our club allows our families to travel with us. We have some younger kids. But I'm impressed with how everybody has handled it. Fortunately we have plenty of food, snacks for the kids, lots of entertainment with on-board movies, and everybody travels with all their high-tech stuff. Most of these kids are pretty happy that they're not in school right now, and it's a great way to spend a day, and no complaints so far."

The team was not scheduled to undergo a workout at Fenway so manager Mike Matheny did not anticipate the delay having much of an effect, reported ESPN.

David Freese tweeted from the plane that someone had even ordered pizza while second baseman Matt Carpenter tweeted: "On the bright side really getting to know some of my teammates children #bonding #cardsplaneproblems."

Pizza is on the way boys!!! #IMOS
— David Freese (@dfreese23) October 29, 2013

It took all day before the Cardinals finally arrived in Boston, trailing the Red Sox 3-2 going into Game 6 on Wednesday night. 

Their flight took off about 9:10 p.m. EDT after a delay that appeared to last around 6 hours and landed shortly after 11 p.m.

On the bright side really getting to know some of my teammates children #bonding #cardsplaneproblems
— Matt Carpenter (@MattCarp13) October 29, 2013

Severed head of Brazilian soccer player is discovered on his front doorstep: Report

Police in Brazil have launched a manhunt after the severed head of a former professional soccer player was left on the doorstep of his home Tuesday.

The horrified wife of Joao Rodrigo Silva Santos made the gruesome discovery as she left the house in Rio de Janeiro for work early yesterday, reports DailyMail.com.

The player's eyes and tongue had been cut out and his head placed inside one of his own backpacks, police said.

Santos retired from football two years ago after a successful career playing for several teams in Rio de Janeiro, as well as for clubs in Sweden and Honduras.

He had recently set up his own business selling health foods and dietary supplements.

Police said today that Santos is believed to have been snatched from outside the shop he had opened in the Realengo district of Rio as he closed up at around 7.45pm on Monday.

Witnesses said they saw several men bundling him into his car, a Hyundai i30, and speeding off just before midnight, a spokesman said. He was reported missing by his wife at 9 pm on Monday.

Investigators are working on the theory that Santos could have been murdered by a drug gang because of his wife's work at a military police base in a local slum. She is a military policewoman who does social work to take back control of the favelas from drug gangs

Santos played as a professional footballer between 1996 and 2005  — during which he scored 33 goals in 103 matches as a striker.  Nicknamed Humble Hero, he was signed to a number of second division teams. He also played abroad for Swedish Club Oster Vaxjo  and Olimpia in Honduras. 

A recent United Nations report into drug trafficking-related crime in Brazil found that more than half of the homicides, robberies and thefts have a direct or indirect link with this criminal activity.

The FIFA World Cup begins in Brazil on June 12.

Jennifer Garner sports 'Red Sox' beard on 'Jimmy Kimmel Live' (VIDEO)

When Jennifer Garner walked out onto set of Jimmy Kimmel Live Tuesday night, she was sporting a beard that made the fuzz her husband, Ben Affleck, wore in his "Argo' film role look like a five-o'clock shadow. She explained that the Duck Dynasty makeover was a nod to the Boston Red Sox and one of their most famous fans — Affleck.

Kimmel took just one at the beautiful actress and said, "Yes, please take it off. It's disturbing."

Garner said the fake beard was meant as good luck for the Sox players — currently playing the Cardinals in the World Series —  riding their own wave of bearded success throughout the playoffs.

"That's really all that's happening at my house right now, I don't know if kids are being fed, or if trick or treating is going to happen," Garner joked. "But it's part of the deal. It's one the deals you make with devil when you're living with Ben Affleck."

Also part of the deal is dealing with Affleck's superstitions when it comes to the Red Sox.

"Once you get into the playoffs, it's like, somebody made an error so I have change where I'm sitting on the couch?" Garner says. "You wore this shirt yesterday, or had a hot dog at this time yesterday ... It's a little bit ridiculous. But he's not kidding. It's some weird guy thing."

Is Affleck the luckiest guy in the world or what?

Jaromir Jagr moves into second place on NHL career game-winning goals list (VIDEO)

Jaromir Jagr’s first winning goal for the New Jersey Devils was a record-breaking occasion.

Scoring on a second-period breakaway, Jagr moved past Phil Esposito into second place on the NHL's all-time list with his 119th career game-winning goal as the Devils edged the Eastern Conference-leading Tampa Bay Lightning, 2-1, Tuesday at Prudential Center.

It was Jagr's third goal of the season and 684th of the 41-year-old's amazing career.

Gordie Howe still holds the all-time record with 121, although the NHL and Devils somehow overlooked Mr. Hockey when they announced that Jagr had set a new mark at The Rock.

With the tireless Jagr just two behind Howe, the all-time record is still well within reach. 

Matt Harvey declares himself 'ahead of schedule' after Tommy John surgery

Matt Harvey made his first pubic comments since having arm surgery six days ago and, with a robotic brace on his right arm and his easier-on-the-eyes girlfriend, Anne Vyalitsyna, clutching his left, declared himself "ahead of schedule" after undergoing the Tommy John procedure.

The couple walked down the "blue carpet" outside the renovated Madison Square Garden Monday night for the New York Rangers home opener. But the Mets righthander knew the spotlight was focused on his valuable arm.

“I am just doing range of motion stuff now, but today was the first day I could take the bandages off and I was at (Hospital for Special Surgery) working and everybody thinks I am ahead of schedule," Harvey told the N.Y. Daily News.

 “We were able to straighten it today and I think they were surprised I could do that, already.“So the rehab is ahead of schedule,” said Harvey, a big Rangers fan and a regular at the Blueshirts games.

That is the first good news from Harvey since Aug. 24, when he was diagnosed with a partially torn ulnar collateral ligament. The pitcher took his time exploring his options before committing to surgery, which generally takes a year to recover from. After talking to other pitchers who had suffered similar injuries, most notably Roy Halladay, he began a program to strengthen the muscles around the tendon to try and throw with the partial tear.

He never got as far as the throwing portion of the program before he decided on having the surgery. Harvey admitted Monday night it was a “tough” situation for him.

“Before I decided to go with surgery, I wanted to make sure I was mentally prepared, just fully committed in my decision,” Harvey said. “My mom was down there during the surgery. The last time I was in the hospital was when I was born. This was definitely a tough decision and I wanted to make sure everything was perfect.”

But Mets fans should not get their hopes up for Harvey's return next season. Team sources have said they are not prepared to let their ace pitch in 2014. But last night's optimism is a good sign for 2015.

Caps’ Oleksy fights to get off ice with broken skate (VIDEO)

Pity the poor NHL players who have to wear so much equipment during a game — especially those danged ice skates.

Now watch as Washington Capitals defenseman Steve Oleksy loses the blade of one skate on Monday and has to helplessly —and comically — slip, stumble and crawl to the bench without any help from the referees or his teammates while the puck was still in play.

Oops. Check that. A ref did actually give Oleksy a helping hand.

Red Sox impressed with paper airplane toss from stands (VIDEO)

After the Red Sox beat the Cardinals 3-1 in Game 5 at Busch Stadium Monday night, Sox hero David Ross talked about how impressed he was with the throw that sent a giant paper airplane near the mound. And, apparently, so was the rest of the team.

LaTroy Hawkins helps restrain irate passenger aboard flight to Chile

LaTroy Hawkins hasn't worn a New York Mets uniform in weeks, but that didn't stop the closer from making a save. And at 40,000 feet in the air.

Hawkins was  on American Airlines Flight 945, where he and two friends restrained an irate passenger who wrestled with a flight attendant because he was upset with his seat assignment.

"I saw that this guy kept coming up to the front, but I didn't think anything of it," Hawkins said from Argentina, where he is on a dove-hunting trip.

According to Hawkins, he and his traveling party were 2 1/2 hours into a flight from Dallas to Santiago, Chile, early Monday morning when the passenger began a physical altercation with a flight attendant.

"They get to tussling and land in my lap," Hawkins said. "Knocked over my ice cream sundae, knocked over the wine, everything all over me. I jump up, we grab his arm, I had one arm in the air and my knee in his back trying to keep him down because he keeps trying to move."

Hawkins used zip ties to restrain the passenger's hands and feet. But sometime later, with most of the cabin asleep, Hawkins said the man got free from the restraints and caused another disturbance.

This time Hawkins' friends intervened first. Rodney Carter and Leonard Whittenberg subdued the passenger. Hawkins helped to again apply zip ties and tape. The second incident prompted a 4:16 a.m. emergency landing in Lima, Peru, where the troublesome passenger was taken into custody.

Hawkins tweeted about the incident:

These 2 studs had to subdue a guy on our flight from DFW to Santiago Chile.. Escorted him of the plane… http://t.co/8g9knvQVqJ
— LaTroy Hawkins (@LaTroyHawkins32) October 28, 2013

According to American Airlines, Flight 945 was grounded for two hours before it proceeded to Santiago. Hawkins and his party missed a connecting flight to Argentina, which cost them a day of their planned hunting trip.

Nobody was injured in the incident.

Utah Jazz apologize after tweeting photo of fan donning blackface to recreate Karl Malone pose

The Utah Jazz has been forced to apologize after seemingly endorsing a fan who donned blackface to dress up as former star player Karl Malone.

The team's Twitter account retweeted an image on Sunday depicting two fans recreating a photo of Malone and his teammate John Stockton, adding: "Can anyone top this Halloween costume?"

The tweet was originally sent by Tyler Christensen from Logan, Utah and compares an image of him and his friend in costume with the original image of the Hall of Fame duo.

"We tried our best to recreate the dynamic duo! #stocktontomalone #utahjazz #themailman," Christensen wrote, tweeting the message at the Utah Jazz and ESPN accounts.

@espn @utahjazz we tried our best to recreate the dynamic duo! #stocktontomalone #utahjazz #themailman pic.twitter.com/FcLts6P7Lm
— Tyler Christensen (@TCritty25) October 27, 2013

After the Utah Jazz account retweeted the image in an apparent endorsement of the fans' use of blackface, it came under fire —  and the tweet was promptly removed, Deadspin first reported.

Some readers branded it 'offensive', while others lamented at how Halloween revelers choose to use blackface every year, despite the controversy it causes.

"We apologize for the last retweet/tweet moments ago," the Jazz account read minutes later on Sunday afternoon. "We have taken it down as it may be insensitive."

A Jazz spokesperson added: "Within minutes we realized the error, we deleted the Tweet and apologized to our followers."

We apologize for the last retweet/tweet moments ago, we have taken it down as it may be insensitive.
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) October 27, 2013

Matthew Stafford was Mic'd Up for game-winning drive (VIDEO)

The Detroit Lions' thrilling 80-yard game-winning drive to beat the Cowboys on Sunday was probably the most exciting 62 seconds of NFL action in Week 8. Quarterback Matthew Stafford's 1-yard dunk over the Dallas defensive line in which he fooled everyone — even his teammates — is a play for the ages.

The Lions have now added to the excitement by unveiling the video below — a video of Stafford mic'd up as Detroit prepares to drive for the winning touchdown. And it offers proof that Stafford called for his team to clock the ball at the goal line

Cowboy fans, turn away.

OSU marching band's halftime tribute to Hollywood is a blockbuster (VIDEO)

The Ohio State University marching band wowed the crowd two weeks ago by reanimating Michael Jackson doing a Moonwalk across the field. But during their halftime show Saturday, fans were treated to blockbuster tribute to Hollywood that deserves an Oscar.

As always, the music from film scores like Superman and Jurassic Park were great but it was the band's marching formations — bringing the classic films to life — that were the most impressive. 

While playing the Harry Potter theme, the band took the formation of Harry riding a broomstick that moved across the field to chase a golden snitch.  

Their Tyrannosaurus Rex for the Jurassic Park tribute actually swallowed up one of the band members.

The grand finale involved two ships fighting each other while the band played music from Pirates of the Carribean. One of the ship's sails had the OSU insignia on it, and the other had their rival's —  the University of Michigan. Needless to say, Michigan's ship was sunk by a thunderous cannon.

Pacman Jones threatens Jets' David Nelson: 'I'm going to find out where you live': source

Hot-headed Cincinnati Bengals’ cornerback Adam "Pacman" Jones may have crossed the line with a threat to wide receiver David Nelson during the Jets’ 49-9 loss on Sunday.

Jones, who has a long list of legal trouble during his NFL career, made it clear that Nelson would face repercussions for what he perceived as dirty play even if it meant taking matters into his own hands off the field, a source told the New York Daily News.

"I’m going to find out where you live and come and get you," Jones told Nelson, according to a source."

Jones admitted to the Bengals’ website that he jawed with Rex Ryan in the second half.

"He told me to shut the hell up," claimed Jones.

Jones, who had a pick-six in the second half, wasn’t thrilled with what he perceived as cheap shots from Nelson, who was called for an unnecessary roughness penalty on the last play of the third quarter.

"(Nelson) was playing dirty," Jones told the team’s website, Bengals.com. "He cut me like four times after the play. Thank God I took my medicine today - I guess - and I didn't go off. Hopefully, he'll get fined. At least three fines. There were three real cheap shots after the play."

The combustible Jones is no stranger to violence off the field. In October, he was found not guilty of assaulting a woman and received a citation for disorderly conduct during a police stop this summer. Jones was ordered to pay $11 million for his involvement in a shooting outside a Las Vegas nightclub in 2007.

Nelson, who was signed by the Jets a few weeks ago, had team highs in receptions (eight) and yards (80) in the loss.

Cordarrelle Patterson ties NFL record with 109-yard kickoff return (GIF)

There have been only two 109-yard scoring plays in NFL history and they both happened in the same stadium.

Minnesota Vikings rookie Cordarrelle Patterson took the opening kickoff against the Green Bay Packers and returned it 109-yards for a touchdown on Sunday, setting the NFL record for longest kickoff return in league history and tying Antonio Cromartie's record for longest play in NFL history.

Patterson broke the kickoff return record previously held by New England's Ellis Hobbs (2007), Green Bay's Randall Cobb (2011) and Baltimore's Jacoby Jones (2012). All three players shared the kickoff return record with 108-yard touchdowns.

The record-setting kickoff return by Patterson tied Cromartie's record for longest play in NFL history. Cromartie, then with the Chargers, returned a missed field goal 109-yards for a touchdown in a 2007 game against the Vikings played at the Metrodome.

Antonio Cromartie’s wife goes off on Jets defense via Twitter

While the New York Jets were getting crushed by the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday, it was Antonio Cromartie’s wife who took things into her own hands during the game — well, at least into her thumbs via Twitter.

Terricka Cason, “Lady Cro” on Twitter (@iluvTERRICKA) tweeted about Andy Dalton’s big game: “Dalton making this s--- look like pop warner” as she gave a running commentary about the Jets poor defense.

Dalton had a huge game in the Bengals’ 49-9 win over Gang Green on Sunday. He burned Cromartie and the Jets secondary for 325 yards and five touchdowns. Four of them to receiver Marvin Jones.

Cromartie’s better half, who describes herself as “E! CandY Girl, Actress, Model, Dancer, Host” in her Twitter bio, showed much more fight than the Jets, even after seeing some negative response from some users. Her tweets included:

“This Is just embarrassing the whole team failed to show up today.”

“We have to keep our game consistent and jump off this up And down roller coaster.”

After some followers criticized her tweets, Cason brought out her own D:

"I guess cause ima wife I'm not suppose 2comment on a Game... That will never happen.. I was raised in this game uncles played pro, cousins 2"

I guess cause ima wife I'm not suppose 2comment on a Game... That will never happen.. I was raised in this game uncles played pro, cousins 2
— Lady Cro (@iluvTERRICKA) October 27, 2013

Then she turned it down a bit:

“Let’s regroup and have a better game next week.. I think what’s sad is I know how good our team is and sometime it fails to show”

“At the end of the Day I kno the effort that these guys put forth each week win or lose GO JETS”

Finally, she’d had her fill.

“Ok Good Night it was fun see you next week same time same place with better results... J-E-t-S JETS JETS JETS”

The Jets host New Orleans at 1 p.m. next Sunday.

Dan Snyder offers $20K for fan's customized Redskins van

Washington Redskins owner Dan Snyder has been under a lot of heat lately for his refusal to change the team's name. And his charitable work around the D.C. area sometimes gets lost in the controversy.

One charitable item missing on the team's website is Snyder's offer to a military veteran. The team owner has offered to pay $20,000 for a customized Redskins van owned by 55-year-old Charles Jones, a veteran who was homeless when he purchased it in Feb. 2012.

Jones painted the van after the team's 3-6 start last season, which coincided with the Redskins' run to the division title and the playoffs. But now, financial obligations has Jones selling the van. He posted an ad on Craigslist with an asking price of $13,000.

The Redskins called Jones with the inflated offer while the Washington Post's Sarah Kogod was doing a story on Jones and his vehicle.

“I don't know if that was a gag, or whatever, but he said that Dan Snyder would like to buy the van for $20,000,” Jones told Kogod when he hung up the phone. “That's just what I need.”

Jones continued: “I have my faith, and I've tried to be patient. This means so much. I can pay off my debts, I can help my family. ... And the most important thing, I can finally afford to go visit my daughter and grandkids. That means more to me than anything.”

Kogod was on hand when Jones got the call. Here's his reaction.

Roger Goodell wants NFL teams in both London and Los Angeles

As the Jaguars and 49ers gear up for the kick-off in London Sunday, the topic of a team playing overseas is once again at the forefront of the NFL discussion. But would the league prefer a franchise in London or a franchise back in Los Angeles?

Speaking at a fan forum for Euro NFLers on Saturday, Goodell said he wants "both" and he doesn't care which one happens first.

"It doesn't matter," Goodell said. "I'd love to be back in Los Angeles. But it has to be done the right way, we have to do it successfully ... I want both [London and LA], but it doesn't matter which one is first."

It feels inevitable that fans will eventually get both — despite the objections of most team owners and players. After all, what Roger Goodell wants, he usually gets. The NFL could also force the issue and get a team in LA and a team in London in the next five years.

Goodell understands that it "has to be done the right way," and the right way is hard to pull off. The transition needs to appear somewhat seamless and bring the popularity of the NFL brand across the pond without creating any waves.

The commish appears to think that the fans overseas are open to bringing a franchise to London.

"You are proving you are worthy of a franchise," Goodell said to the Europeans.

Let's see how they feel after watching the Jaguars play.

Fan's whistle from the stands nearly costs Wake Forest a safety against Miami (Video)

A fan's whistle during the Wake Forest-Miami game created one of the stranger moments of the season on Saturday.

Wake Forest punter Alexander Kinal was standing in his own end zone, ready to punt, but when he received the ball, he heard a whistle and stopped.

Miami players who were rushing the play stopped as well.

No one seemed to know what was happening, including the announcers who both yelled, “There’s been no whistle!” during the confusion.

However, everyone on the field heard a whistle — only just not from an official. It was from the fan in the stands, who tweeted his whistle multiple times to simulate an official's whistle to possibly throw Kinal off.

His idiotic scheme almost worked, but it created such a confusion that instead of the play being called a safety, the officials called the play dead and Wake Forest was able to punt again.

Miami was down 14-10 at the time and it could have been a huge momentum changer. As it turned out, Miami ultimately won the game without the doofus in the stands' assistance'.

Golden Gophers hockey players celebrate goal, get helmets stuck together (VIDEO)

The hockey battle between No. 1 Minnesota Golden Gophers against No. 5 Boston College got off to an great start Friday night.

Hudson Fasching, a Los Angeles Kings prospect and Minnesota freshman forward, scored just 30 seconds into the game by scoring on a rebound to make it 1-0. The Gophers came together to celebrate the goal and as most of the players skated to the bench, Fasching and teammate Brady Skjei, a first-round pick of the New York Rangers, couldn't seem to part. Turns out their helmets were stuck together.

Fasching used his head, though. He took his helmet off and continued the goal celebration helmetless. 

In college hockey, full face masks are required, so this type of situation is unique and rarely happens. In the NHL, removing your lid could land you in the penalty box.

Fighter's punch knocks sparring partner through wall (VIDEO)

Watch as an MMA instructor gives a demonstration on punching technique while the real action goes on between the two sparring partners behind him.

In the background, a big guy lands a straight left to his taller opponent and hilariously sends him backwards through a wall.  While the big dude's knockout punch might become legend at this gym, give a little assist to the crumbling, quarter-inch drywall which just said No Mas.

The taller guy is finally pulled from the rubble, shaken and dazed, but smiling nonetheless.

That's one way to add more square-footage to their half-cage.

Crazy new Russian sport of gang fighting in snow (VIDEO)

According to this YouTube video, giant street brawls between mobs of young men are the latest sports craze in Russia.

Watch this clip of about two dozen men — each from a blue or a white team — battle it out in the snow. This isn't just young men pushing and shoving each other. There is ganging up — while violent punches and kicks fly — until no one from the white team is even left standing.

And not a single snowball was thrown during this snowbrawl.

Guess they couldn't find a hockey rink.

College football referee tells band to shut up during game (VIDEO)

During the middle of the Marshall-Middle Tennessee State game Thursday night, play is stopped while the referee threatens the MTSU band with a noise violation and tells them to quit playing.

The Band of Blue had the last tuba toot though, after MTSU scored on the final play to win a 51-49 shootout .

Watch: Fan's horrified look after Metta World Peace's crotch lands in his face (GIF)

NBA fans sit in the courtside seats so they can get close to the action. And sometimes you get more than you bargained for — as this Justin Bieber lookalike found out Friday night at Madison Square Garden.

It may have only been the Knicks last pre-season game but that didn't stop Metta World Peace from flying into the seats after a loose ball like it was the playoffs. It wasn’t so much of World Peace’s effort that catches our eye as was the reaction of the fan who got the full force of MWP's crotch in his face.

As MWP dove for the ball, he attempted to leap over the young man, but couldn’t completely clear him, leaving him face-deep in the NBA star's groin area. And, as you can see by the fan's horrified look, maybe the nosebleed section isn't so bad after all.

At least he won't have to waste a napkin to wipe his face.

Jets owner praises Rex Ryan, won't discuss future with team

Woody Johnson admitted he is 'happy' with the job Rex Ryan has done with the Jets surprising 4-and-3 start, but the owner still refuses to make any commitment on Ryan's future with the club past this season.

“I will make a statement after the season,” Johnson said Thursday. “I never make any comments regarding contracts during the season.”

Last week's dramatic victory over the Patriots showed that Ryan can still coach but, maybe more noticeable was his back-and-forth with Bill Belichick this week over The Push which showed that Ryan still has the fire in his trimmed-down belly.

“We’re happy with Rex,” Johnson said. “Coaches have to be good teachers and good leaders and I think he’s both.”

The Jets meet the playoff-caliber Bengals and Saints the next two games leading into their bye week, so Johnson will probably have a clear picture where the team is headed by then. But, however successful, there will still be seven games left to self-destruct after that.

Ryan insists he isn't looking that far ahead but appreciates his boss' support after last year's Butt Fumble of a season.

“I like the fact that my boss said some nice things about me,” he said. “I said it before, it’s not about me. Right now, it means nothing to me other than the fact that he had some nice comments to say. My situation is the Cincinnati Bengals. That’s where my attention is.”

Ryan’s contract, at about $3 million per year, runs through 2014. Teams generally don’t let coaches go into the last year of their deals — they either get fired or extended. 

Is Johnson anticipating an extension of Ryan's contract?

"I don’t make any statements like that," he said. "The only thing I’ll say is I’m happy with him. I think he’s a great teacher, a good teacher, maybe a great teacher, and a good leader... That's what we hired him to be. We're happy with that."

Tom Brady, Gisele Bundchen buy $14 million Manhattan condo

Tom Brady and his wife Gisele Bündchen are moving on up — make that way up — after they bought a $14 million condo in New York City high-rise.

The NFL quarterback and the top-earning Brazilian model have purchased a three-bedroom, full-floor condominium on the 47th floor of the luxury residential tower, One Madison Park, which is located at the foot of Madison Avenue in Manhattan.  The prime location gives incredible views across Manhattan and beyond.

A source told the New York Post's Page Six: ''They went for the model apartment, which is a full-floor private residence with amazing city and river-to-river plus park views.''

A previous listing said the apartment boasts breathtaking views north and west, including a stunning look directly up Madison Avenue.

“It will allow Tom Brady to look down on Gotham like Batman,” another source chuckled — which will surely tick off many Jets and Giants fans. But hey, at least Eli has Hoboken.

The interior of the couple's apartment, crafted by Danish designer Thomas Juul-Hansen, boasts solid quarter-sawn white oak plank floors and oversized doors, a master bedroom with his and hers closets and a master bath with a soaking tub and custom double vanities, which is only fitting for the glamorous pair.

Bündchen, the world’s highest-paid model, who earned $42 million last year, according to Forbes (while hubby Brady made $48.3 million), previously owned a triplex penthouse on West 11th Street, which she unloaded for $4.4 million. He had a condo at Time Warner Center, which he sold for $17.5 million.

They also have a sprawling, 14,000-square-foot mansion in LA they built from the ground, and are currently building a similar-size manse in Brookline, near Boston.

A rep for Brady said, “He doesn’t comment on his private life,” while reps for Bündchen didn’t get back to Page Six.

Lightning give up embarrassing game-tying own goal (VIDEO)

Jonathan Toews scored an unassisted game-tying goal for the Chicago Blackhawks late in the third period on Thursday night. But, maybe "scored" isn't the right word, seeing as Toews simply had to touch the puck before the Tampa Bay Lightning put into their own net.

With 1:49 left in regulation and a 5-4 Lightning lead, Toews tried to control the puck but had it taken away on a nice back-check by Marty St. Louis. Tampa Bay's Matt Carle sent the puck back to Radko Gudas with a little too much oomph and it went under his stick blade, off his skate and then past goalie Ben Bishop for the tying goal.

Officially the goal went down as an unassisted score for Toews but in reality, we all know who this one belongs to — Gudas with an assist from Carle.

The good news for the Lightning? They won the game in overtime, 6-5.

Teemu Selanne autographs tattoo of Teemu Selanne (PHOTO)

I'm not really a fan of dudes getting tattooed with images of other dudes — even if they are your sports idol or Yosemite Sam — but this tattoo of NHL star  Teemu Selanne is pretty awesome. And it just got more awesome.

One guy in Montreal decided to get Selanne tattooed onto his arm with the Anaheim Ducks logo by the side and — with the Ducks in Montreal for a game on Thursday night — he had the chance to show Selanne his permanent portrait.

Not only did the gracious  Selanne see it, but he signed the guy's arm right below the tattoo.

You can bet this fan found the nearest tattoo parlor and the signature inked in before it faded.

Really nice.

This guy in Montreal has tattoo of Selanne and he autographed it today And his fan will tattoo it also today pic.twitter.com/sVVVeJeTjB
— Zdenek Matejovsky (@zedmat) October 24, 2013

Pam Oliver angers NY crowd with Jets, Giants insults: Report

If anyone knows about the hazards of covering sports, it's Pam Oliver. The Fox Sports reporter once got a concussion after she was hit in the head by a football and was nearly trampled by the OSU marching band.

But, after she faced a bunch Jets and Giants supporters at a New York-New Jersey Super Bowl breakfast Thursday, Oliver might consider working the sideline and dodging tacklers a breeze compared to working a room and fending off hecklers.

Oliver flopped as host of the fancy breakfast for regional business leaders, drawing gasps, groans and more than a few boos for her odd and insulting comments during a roundtable with owners of the Jets and Giants, reports The N.Y. Post.

Oliver shocked and angered the jeering crowd by alternately ridiculing Jets fans, coach Rex Ryan, the Giants’ current woes and New Yorkers in general during the 30-minute session.

The Times Square breakfast for roughly 50 area business executives was sponsored by the Association for a Better New York.

About her bad Roseanne routine, the Post wrote:

When Al Kelly, chairman of the New York-New Jersey Super Bowl Committee, was asked by Oliver how the committee would make sure people dressed appropriately for an outdoor game in February, he said there would probably be “a couple of idiots” who wouldn’t do so.

“Probably Jets fans,” Oliver said, prompting groans.

Oliver later showed her apparent ignorance of the Jets’ surprising 4-3 start by asking team owner Woody Johnson: “How does Rex [Ryan] keep his job?”

The 1-6 Giants weren’t spared, either. Oliver asked one of the team’s owners, Jonathan Tisch, to explain “what in the hell is the matter with the Giants?”

The most insulting comment from Oliver, however, was reserved for New Yorkers as a whole.

The crowd roared when she ask the team owners and Kelly how they planned “to instruct people of this area, particularly New Yorkers, to be nice? To say ‘please,’ ‘thank you’ and ‘I’ll get that’?”

Oliver quickly qualified that by saying, “I’m sorry — I’m from the South.”

But Tisch wasn’t pleased.

“I’m from New York City, and I take exception with that,” Tisch said. “New Yorkers are unbelievably hospitable.”

Enjoy the omelets folks. Oliver already added the pepper.

Man arrested for making Twitter threats to Mets and Citi Field

A Connecticut man was arrested Wednesday and charged with making threats against the New York Mets on Twitter. He also made 140-characters-or-less threats to poison the food at Citi Field and blow up the clubhouse, according to a team source.

West Haven police took 42-year-old Aryn Leroux into custody Wednesday, and he was charged with second-degree threatening and breach of peace, according to the Connecticut State’s attorney’s office. Both charges are misdemeanors.

Leroux, a resident of West Haven, is alleged to have threatened Mets players, coaches, executives and in one case, a girlfriend of a player, using the handle @danXtanna via Twitter.

The threatening tweets come a day after New York Giants running back Brandon Jacobs and his family were menaced with death threats by another man on Twitter.

The user @danXtanna had long been known as a disgruntled fan to Mets players. Two players said that they were warned about that Twitter user in spring training. Throughout the season, @danXtanna had Twitter disputes with several players, including veteran reliever LaTroy Hawkins.

Much of Leroux’s thumb-bluster was dismissed by the players as that of an overzealous, disgruntled fan and a few, such as reliever David Aardsma, simply blocked him on the social media site.

Last month, however, the threats escalated. The Mets and MLB security investigated what a team source said were “terroristic threats,” and security turned Leroux’s Twitter handle over to Queens police.

On Sept. 13, @danXtanna suggested Mets fans should act like slasher Jason Voorhees from the horror film series “Friday the 13th” mentioning the Mets’ manager, owner and general manager. Also, later in the month, he allegedly threatened to blow up the Mets clubhouse and poison the food at Citi Field, said the source.

Several fans on Twitter, seeing the threats, contacted the Mets and Twitter to alert them. 

Via @danXtanna, Leroux had threatened not only Hawkins, but utility infielder Justin Turner and Turner’s girlfriend, according to a team source. Hawkins and Turner are two active Mets on Twitter.

Hawkins confirmed he had some interaction with the @danXtanna account that he considered threatening.

“It’s good,” Hawkins said of the arrest. “You can’t go around making threats on Twitter and hide. I understand fans being upset, but you cannot threaten people’s lives.”

Hawkins said he enjoys the interaction with fans on Twitter. He said 90% of it is positive, 10% is negative, but Leroux’s tweets stood out for their intensity.

“He threatened to blow us up, he had a whole elaborate scheme,” Hawkins said. “I know fans invest a lot in sports, they put their faith in the players and their teams, but you cannot threaten people’s lives over it.”

Police said Leroux posted $2,500 bail. He could not be reached for comment Wednesday. It was not clear if he has a lawyer, and a phone listing for him was disconnected.

The Mets have not commented on the arrest.

Bud Selig to present Mariano Rivera with Historic Achievement Award before Game 2

Recently retired New York Yankees relief pitcher Mariano Rivera will receive the Commissioner's Historic Achievement Award before Game 2 of the World Series between the Boston Red Sox and St. Louis Cardinals, Major League Baseball announced.

All season long opposing teams paid tribute to the future Hall of Famer with gifts and ceremonies. Now MLB commissioner Bud Selig will hand Rivera this honor before Thursday night's game at Fenway Park.

The 43-year-old Rivera, who retired this year after 19 seasons, will get the award at a 7 p.m. press conference. Rivera, who will be accompanied by his wife, Clara, and three sons will then be honored on the field as part of the pregame ceremonies.

Rivera, baseball's all-time saves leader with 652, recorded 44 saves with a 2.11 ERA in 64 games in his final season. Thursday night will mark the first time MLB has given the award, which was created to recognize contributions of historical significance in MLB, since Ken Griffey Jr. received it in 2011.

Past recipients are Roger Clemens, Barry Bonds, Ichiro Suzuki, Roberto Clemente, Rickey Henderson, Sammy Sosa, Mark McGwire, Tony Gwynn, Cal Ripken Jr. and Rachel Robinson.

Even die-hard Sox fans will be glad to see the deserving Mo get this award during their World Series.

UTEP to play Kentucky for 50th anniversary of '66 game on Martin Luther King Day: Report

In 2016, it will mark 50 years since Kentucky lost to Texas Western in the 1966 men's national championship game, a game now viewed as one of the most significant in college basketball history.

That game blew away one facet of racial prejudice that contended that an all-black lineup could not win at the highest level. Then-Texas Western (now The University of Texas-El Paso) coach Don Haskins used only black players in the victory over all-white Kentucky.

Current UTEP head coach Tim Floyd said Wednesday afternoon the two schools were working on a plan to honor that milestone victory and mark the 50th anniversary of the classic match-up by meeting once again on Martin Luther King Day in 2016.

UTEP coach Tim Floyd just announced Miners will play Kentucky in rematch of 66 game in 2016 possibly at Maryland on Martin Luther King Day.
— Darren Hunt (@dhuntabc7) October 23, 2013

According to Floyd, the teams are hoping to schedule the game at Maryland, the site of the 1966 game.

This is sports history that deserves such a tribute.