Mayor Bloomberg: Stephen Jackson didn't step on waitress, I 'pushed' him

Mayor Michael Bloomberg has forced a lot of his agenda on the citizens of New York City — third terms, bike lanes, banning trans-fat and 32-ounce drinks — and some may label him a bully.  Now, it sounds like the billionaire mayor has taken his strong-arm tactics down to his courtside seats at Madison Square Garden.

Last Thursday, after Spurs forward Stephen Jackson left the game with a sprained ankle during the Knicks 100-83 win,  believed to have happened when Jackson tripped over a waitress who was crouching next to the court serving the mayor a drink.

Not so, Bloomberg said yesterday at a press conference in the Bronx.

"He didn't fall on her, " Bloomberg revealed.  "He came close and I just pushed him a little bit."

Say what? Was the mayor channeling his inner Charles Oakley to get an assist for the Knicks?

"I wasn't helping [the Knicks]," he said of his sixth man status but added. "It would be great for New York" if both the Knicks and Nets made the playoffs.



Jackson tripped and rolled the ankle after attempting a three point shot and falling backwards. He missed the rest of the game and the next one too.

Bloomberg indicated that his "push" was just instinctive.

It isn't the first time Jackson has made headlines for a physical encounter with a fan.  It was Jackson and former St. John's star Ron Artest (now Metta World Peace) who rumbled in the stands during the infamous Malice at the Palace in 2004.


Whether or not Jackson stepped on the waitress or got boxed out by the diminutive mayor is a moot point to Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich.  Pops called the incident a "mayoral mishap" but is calling on all NBA teams to keep the sidelines less cluttered during the game.

Does that mean getting rid of Spike Lee?

NYC politician calls mayor's refusal to cancel marathon 'idiotic'

The number of New Yorkers calling for Mayor Michael Bloomberg to call off Sunday's ING New York City Marathon in the wake of Hurricane Sandy is growing.

Staten Island,  one of the hardest hit areas in New York City and the starting point for the 26.2-mile race, is still cleaning up their storm-ravaged neighborhoods and the anger in the crippled borough is so high, a local councilman has called the mayor's refusal to call off the race "idiotic" on his Facebook page.

"The notion of diverting even one police officer, one first responder, one asset away from this carnage is beyond irrational," Councilman James Oddo told The New York Daily News.

Staten Island is the scene of some of the most tragic stories and images to come out of the devastating storm.  Just yesterday, two young brothers' bodies were found, after they were swept away from their mother, and numerous photos of trapped residents being rescued from their homes on the South Shore were all over the news.  Residents are still pleading for help from the city.

The thought of tents, food, water and generator-supplied power catering to the perky 47,000 runners at the marathon's starting line — while despondent people go cold, wet and without power nearby — is just one reason Staten Island residents are joining a "Boycott the 2012 NYC Marathon."

Bloomberg, meanwhile, held firm on holding the race.

"This city is a city where we have to go on."

"Keep in mind by Sunday we'll have electricity back downtown," he said.  "That will free up an enormous number of police.  Also, a lot of the transportation needs that we have during the week aren't there on the weekends."

A lot of the registered participants, who have trained for the race, are having second thoughts about running through a course with a backdrop of destruction and despair.

The New York Road Runners Facebook page has been filling up with requests to cancel this year's race — or at least postpone it.

The NYRRC has promised to donate $1 million to the Sandy relief.

Ironically, the runners will begin their run with a carnival-like start at the entrance to the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge, then jog forward into Brooklyn leaving their disposable clothing and empty water bottles amongst the destruction Sandy left behind.

Maybe some will look back over their shoulders.

Mayor Bloomberg to fans: Don't boo the Yankees — 'they're trying'

New York Yankees fans, who are still in shock over the Bombers getting blown out by the Detroit Tigers in the ALCS, got some words of advice from Mayor Michael Bloomberg the morning after the embarrassing four-game sweep.

New York City's general micro-manager took time off from important issues like gun control and the dangers of 32 oz. sodas to defend the $200 million team's lackluster play on the mayor's weekly WOR radio program by putting things into perspective.

Cue the slowly rising dramatic music score.

"My youngest daughter once gave me a lecture about people on the field, the people on the stage, the people writing that book, the people doing radio shows — they're trying," Bloomberg said.

"And if any of us can do better, we can go in that business."

Spoken like a true zillionaire mayor.

The mayor saved his best for the Bronx boo-birds and their criticism of the underachieving players.

"People say A-Rod isn't trying," said Bloomberg.  "He's a guy with enormous pride.  He's got an ego and he's got reason to be — he's a great athlete.  He wants to hit a home run more than the team and the fans want him to hit a home run."

Sounds like Bloomberg just got Alex Rodriguez's vote if the mayor decides to force an extension of term limits again.

Too bad the third baseman might be casting his vote in Miami next election.