Getting beaten up by a bunch of street punks wouldn’t have been anywhere near as painful as the last five weeks have been for Jets fans.  The Football Gods just opened up their golden endzone, smiled upon the Jet faithful, and then poo-ed all over us.  Wow that one sucked.  I’m good at rationalizing but this was tough.  I can’t help but wonder if Belichick’s karma contributed.  The powers-that-be would rather see Manigini fired than a cheater coach his way through injuries galore and return to glory.

Eric Mangini had to go.  The consistent problems we’ve had – an inability to adjust to other team’s game plans, the inability to win in the Pacific time zone, the inability to stop the pass (any pass), the reluctance to run the ball with the AFC’s leading rusher, stupid play calling, stupid time management, penalties penalties penalties – everything points to a coach who just isn’t getting the job done.  We had Pennington, Belichick, and the rest of the East in …

Here are the answers to yesterday’s quiz.

1. The Rangers debut season was 1926-27.

2. The Devils franchise began as the Kansas City Scouts in 1974, and after two seasons moved to Colorado, where they played as the Rockies from 1976-82.

3. The one other NHL team to play in New York was the New York/Brooklyn Americans. They played in the league from 1925 to 1942.

4. The New York Raiders/Golden Blades/New Jersey Knights (one team, many names) played two seasons in the WHA before becoming the San Diego Mariners.

5. The Rangers acquired their name when newspaper writers started calling the team Tex’s Rangers, after original owner Tex Rickard.

6. New York/New Jersey teams have won 11 Stanley Cups – the Rangers won in 1928, 1933, 1940 and 1994; the Islanders in 1980, 1981, 1982 and 1983; and the Devils in 1995, 2000 and 2003.

7. Andy Bathgate (1959), Bryan Trottier (1979) and Mark Messier (1992) all won the Hart Trophy.

8. Bryan Trottier is the only New York-area player to win the …

See how much you know about the history of the local hockey franchises. The answers will be posted tomorrow.

1. What year did the Rangers debut?

2. Before the Devils moved to New Jersey, they played in two other locations. Name them.

3. Besides the Rangers, Islanders and Devils, what other NHL franchises have played in the New York area?

4. What WHA franchise played in the New York area?

5. How did the Rangers get their name?

6. How many Stanley Cups have New York/New Jersey teams won?

7. In the past 50 years, only three New York-area players have won the Hart Trophy as the league’s MVP. Name them.

8. How many New York-area players have won the Art Ross Trophy (leading scorer; first handed out for the 1947-48 season)?

9. How many New York-area players have won the James Norris Trophy (top defenseman; first handed out for the 1953-54 season)?

10. Which center of the New York-area’s WHA franchise was named a first team All-Star for the 1973-74 season?

Yes, the Rangers can play well – when they choose to. Tom Renney sat them down and gave them a speech about applying themselves, working hard and not ruining the family name or they won’t get into college and will end up wasting their lives, and then gave them a smack on the back of the head and called them an idiot. Ok, that’s what my father said to me. But it’s relevant to the Rangers. And they rebounded from their three-game losing streak with a 5-4 win over the Islanders last night.

How many times have we said this: If the Rangers skate hard, forecheck, drive to the net, dump the puck in and play a simple game, they’ll win. And that’s what they did against the Isles. And they were actually physical. They can hit people after all. Nigel Dawes clocked Kyle Okposo, and Ryan Callahan absolutely leveled Trent Hunter, who crashed into an open door (and thankfully seems to be ok). Dawes even fought Mike Comrie, …

The Giants had nothing to play for in this game, played most of the second half with backups and still almost pulled out a win against the desperate Vikings (though with Chicago’s loss it turned out the Vikes weren’t desperate after all – but they didn’t know that until they won). The Jints lost on a last-second field goal, 20-19, with Brandon Jacobs, Kevin Boss, Barry Cofield and Aaron Ross taking the day off to get an extra week of rest.

The Good

None of the starters suffered a serious injury. That’s the most important thing that can come out of this game. You never want to go into the playoffs on cruise control, but last week’s battle with Carolina was the last big test and the game that got them on the right track for the postseason. The Giants won’t even remember this game in Minnesota. Eli Manning only played the first half and came out alive. He was 11 for 19 and threw for 119 yards, …

The Rangers lost their third game in a row, falling to the Devils, 4-2. And in those three games they’ve managed to lose three different ways. They outplayed San Jose, but just couldn’t score enough. The Washington loss was a disaster, debacle, or whatever adjective you want to use, when they coughed up a four-goal lead. And last night vs. New Jersey, they were sloppy, undisciplined and turned the puck over – all the usual Rangers trademarks.

What’s the Rangers’ problem? Is it coaching? Is it personnel? Or all of the above? The Devils are disciplined, well-coached and always do the right thing with the puck. The Rangers get off their game plan at the first sign of trouble. You can dangle a shiny set of keys in front of them and away they go, turning the puck over, trying to make too many individual plays and not playing a simple brand of hockey. When they win, they dump the puck in, outwork their opponent, forecheck aggressively …

The word ‘hero’ gets thrown around a lot these days, so during this time of year, when we’re thinking of family and friends, it’s always good to pay tribute to the real heroes of our country – professional athletes. Teachers? Firemen? Doctors? Come on, where have you been living? Can a teacher score a touchdown on a fourth and goal to go? Can a doctor hit a game-winning sacrifice fly? Some pro athletes cheat, lie, only try when they feel like it, hold out for millions and millions of dollars, demand special treatment for their entourages and themselves, take liberties with the ladies, shoot people, shoot themselves, stab people, stab themselves, crash uninsured cars, stash weapons and ammunition in their New Jersey mansions, can barely read, get arrested for drug possession, overdose on drugs, have no clue what it’s like to live in the real world anymore, and insult their fans – but we love them anyway (as long as they win). This week’s prize …

Here are the answers to yesterday’s quiz.

1. In 1976, Dock Ellis hit Baltimore’s Reggie Jackson in the face as revenge for the 1971 All-Star game home run the outfielder hit off him. Ellis had to wait five years to get back at Jackson because they had been playing in different leagues. That’s patience.

2. Jimmy Piersall of the Mets ran the bases facing backwards when he hit his 100th career home run in 1963.

3. Latrell Sprewell choked Warriors coach P.J. Carlesimo in 1997.

4. Former Met and Yankee, media-loving Dave Kingman once sent a live rat to a reporter.

5. Carl Everett holds the belief that dinosaurs didn’t exist and the Apollo moon landing was all a hoax.

6. Theo Fleury collected 216 penalty minutes in 2001-02 for the Rangers, with many game misconducts, because he was completely out of his mind back then.

7. Roger Clemens won 83 games for the Yanks, while David Wells won 68.

8. Billy Martin was fired by George Steinbrenner five times.

9. Vince Coleman swung a …

Dear Santa,

I know it’s last minute but this year I’ve got a really important item I need to add to my wish list.   Actually, I need you to put it at the top.  I’ve analyzed the playoff standings, read all the local sports pages, and I’ve come to the conlusion that you and your reindeer are the Jets’ only hope of  making the playoffs.  So if you can find it somewhere in your jovial heart to give us one very unlikely Christmas Miracle we promise to put out wings and beer next year instead of cookies and milk.  Even those of us who don’t celebrate Christmas will do it.  Kwanzanites, Jews, Muslims, Agnostics, Branch Davidians, Scientologists- there are Jets fans of all faiths, shapes, and sizes and we’ve really had a rough couple of months.

I know the team itself might not look like they deserve it, but Belichick cheats so neither do the Patriots.   Ever been to Boston?  Grumpy, wicked Retaaahhds everywhere…  Stay away Santa, trust me….

updated: Bill Madden is reporting that the deal is for $180 million and includes a $5 million signing bonus and a full no-trade clause.

ESPN’s Buster Olney is reporting that free-agent first baseman Mark Teixeira has reached an agreement with the New York Yankees on an eight-year contract worth more than $170 million.

Crazy. Angry. Drunk. Misunderstood. Just plain nuts. Just in time for Christmas here’s a quiz about some of the slightly off-kilter (or slightly insane) characters that have played in New York. The answers will be posted tomorrow.

1. When Dock Ellis (R.I.P.) pitched for the Yankees in 1976, who did he hit in the face with a pitch (on purpose) and why?

2. Which former New York player ran the bases facing backwards when he hit his 100th career home run?

3. Which coach did Latrell Sprewell strangle?

4. Which former New York baseball player once sent a live rat to a reporter?

5. Which former Met holds the belief that dinosaurs didn’t exist and the Apollo moon landing was all a hoax?

6. Which New York Ranger racked up 216 penalty minutes in 2001-02 because he was thrown out of just about every game he played in that season?

7. Which narcissistic, lard-ass pitcher won more games for the Yankees, David Wells or Roger Clemens?

8. How many times was Billy Martin fired …

Guards

Aaron Brooks (Rockets)- Brooks averaged 15 points, five rebounds, five assists and 1.3 steals in three games last week. He also shot 45% from the field and 91% from the free throw line. He has played at least 42 minutes in two of his past three games with PG Rafer Alston sidelined with an hamstring injury.

Jarret Jack (Pacers)- Jack scored a  season high 27 points against the Clippers last Friday. In his past three games he is averaging 21 points, 5.6 assists and two steals per game. PG T.J. Ford returned to the lineup on Saturday from a groin injury. However, Jack played 31 minutes in that game and dished out a season high eight assists.

Honorable mention: Louis Williams (76ers)

Forwards

James Singleton (Mavs)- Singleton pulled down 13 rebounds, blocked three shots and had three steals against the Wizards yesterday. He played 28 minutes and can be a good source for FG % and rebounds if given enough playing time.

Andres Nocioni (Bulls)- Over his past three games Nocioni has averaged 17.6 points, six rebounds …