We sports fans are a dramatic bunch when it comes to our teams – everything is life and death – but in real life we shrug sadness and tragedy off like it’s nothing. “My Uncle Maury died? What are ya gonna do? He had a good run. Can you pass the ketchup?” But if the team we root for goes into a slump or, God forbid, gets knocked out of the playoffs, we’re screaming, tears are falling like Niagara Falls and we’re pulling what’s left of our hair out. Think back to the 1994 Stanley Cup and tears of joy start falling. Think of the Wilpons or James Dolan owning your team, and tears of sadness reign down. And if you’re like me and Rip Torn, you’ll get so drunk you’ll mistakenly take a local bank for your house, break in and pass out as I did when the 2007 baseball season ended and the Mets pulled off the collapse hear round the world. I was in such bad shape that I was nearly fired …

The dream is over. This year’s version of the J-E-T-S Jets, Jets, Jets certainly doesn’t look like “the same old Jets,” though. They’re more like the 1973 Ya Gotta Believe Mets, arriving out of nowhere to come oh-so-close to a championship. They’re a team we’ll look back on with positive feelings and one worth celebrating. They went further than anyone imagined, and have a future that certainly looks bright, with a successful coach and franchise quarterback in place (though Mark Sanchez now needs surgery on one knee and will be rehabbing the other – maybe he really is the reincarnation of Joe Namath). The whole weekend was pretty much a nightmare for New York sports, though: the Rangers were embarrassed by Montreal on Saturday night, 6-0, the Knicks were humiliated by Dallas, 128-78, the Nets lost to Utah, 116-83, the Islanders lost to New Jersey (ok, one local team won, but one of them had to) and, of course, the Jets were knocked out of playoffs.

Unfortunately, I can think …

The Eastern conference reserves were named today: Rajon Rondo, Derrick Rose, Al Horford, Chris Bosh, Paul Pierce, Gerald Wallace and Joe Johnson.

What name does not belong: Al Horford

Horford in his third season is averaging career highs in points (13.6), rebounds (9.8) and field goal percentage (57.5). The Hawks have the third best record in the East but it does not justify him being selected over David Lee.

Horford has 7 games of 20+ points in 44 games, Lee has 8 games this month.

Horford has 1 game of at least 17 boards (which came against the Knicks) , Lee has 6 games.

Horford has 0 games of at least 7 assists, Lee has 4 games.

While Horford blocks more shots, Lee averages more points, rebounds, steals, assists and has a higher free throw percentage. He may be playing out of position but statistically, Lee is one of the most effective centers in the East.

Also it is worth noting Tim Duncan had 27 rebounds vs. the Hawks yesterday. “I put it on myself, part of it” Al Horford said. “I …

The Knicks have not drafted a player who turned out to be in all-star since Mark Jackson in 1989. New York has not been represented at the All-Star game since 2001. The last American born white player to make it was Brad Miller in 2003 and 2004. The NBA will release the reserve players on Thursday, and reserve squad will consist of two guards, two forwards, one center, and two wildcards from both the East and West.

David Lee is 7th in points (19.4), 4th in field goal percentage (55.4), 3rd in rebounds (11.4) and leads all NBA centers with assists per game (3.4). In 12 games this month he is averaging 20.7 points, 12.6 rebounds and 4.7 assists.

There is just one 20-10 player in the East and that is Chris Bosh, but Lee is approaching 20 points per game which would make him the second. Lee has been labeled as a system guy but he has shown versatility with a jumper, post moves and attacking the basket.

Here are my reserves:

Rajon Rondo, Joe Johnson, Bosh, Gerald …

Week 14 (Jan. 25-31)

Teams playing four games: Atlanta, Boston, Charlotte, Cleveland, Denver, Golden State, Houston, Indiana, L.A. Clippers, L.A. Lakers, Memphis, Miami, Minnesota, New Orleans, New York, Orlando, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Portland, San Antonio

Teams playing three games: Chicago, Dallas, Detroit, Milwaukee, New Jersey, Oklahoma City, Sacramento, Toronto, Utah, Washington

Goran Dragic (Suns): Dragic scored a season-high 20 points last Friday. He also had 4 steals with 3 three-pointers and should receive more minutes with Leandro Barbosa sidelined with an injured wrist.

Marco Belinelli (Raptors)- Belinelli has scored at least 14 points in three of his past four games. He has 5 three-pointers in this span as well.

Daniel Gibson (Cavs)- Gisbson started his first game of the season vs. the Thunder last Friday due to the injuries of Mo Williams and Delonte West. He finished with 13 points, 3 three-pointers, 2 blocks and one steal. He also made the game-winning three-pointer.

J.J Hickson (Cavs)- Hickson had one of his better games in recent weeks against the Lakers last Thursday with 11 points and 14 rebounds. He followed that game up …

I’m not a Jets fan, but Rex Ryan has everyone in this city so inspired and pumped up, even I’d run through a wall for him. In fact, I tried to do just that. Unfortunately, I slipped on a bag of Funyuns and flew through the plate-glass window in my living room. Now I have cuts and bruises all over my face and body, one of my ears was sliced off, my wife is furious at me and it’s really, really cold in our living room. Ryan’s infectious motivating style is being packaged into a new self-help, confidence-building program, with books and DVDS – The Rex Ryan Method: Swaggering, Boasting and Eating Your Way to a Newer, More Confident You. Here are his three top keys to turning yourself into a more successful person:

       1. Declare yourself the favorite in any situation; and then make yourself a nice, big sandwich.

       2. Declare that you will be invited to the White House and meet the President; he will …

Stephen Curry (Warriors)- Tyreke Evans has been playing like the Rookie of the Year but Curry has elevated his game In 8 games this month he is averaging career highs in points (17.1), rebounds (4.6), threes (2.3) and minutes (36) per game. On the season he is shooting 45% from the field and 1.9 steals per game.

Martell Webster (Trailblazers)- Webster is averaging 18.8 points, 3.5 threes, .9 blocks in 39 minutes per game this month. He also is shooting 49% from the field in eight games.

Boris Diaw (Bobcats)- Diaw is playing better after struggling last month. In nine games in January he is averaging 11 points, 5.7 rebounds, 5 assists 1.2 blocks and 1.1 threes per game.

Mike Miller (Wizards)- Miller has been injured plagued all season but when healthy is a multi-category threat. This past Monday he scored 13 points with 4 rebounds, 4 assists and one block.

Andrew Bogut (Bucks)- Bogut has blocked 6 shots twice this month and has 14 blocks over his past 4 games. He has at least 11 rebounds in every …

Week 13 (Jan. 18-24)

Teams playing four games: Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas, Detroit, Golden State, Indiana, L.A. Clippers, L.A. Lakers, Miami, Milwaukee, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Orleans, Oklahoma City, Orlando, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Portland, Sacramento, Toronto, Washington
Teams playing three games: Atlanta, Boston, Cleveland, Denver, Houston, Memphis, New York, San Antonio
Teams playing two games: Utah

Carlos Delfino (Bucks)- Delfino scored a season-high 26 points vs. the Jazz last Friday. He also had 6 three-pointers, 4 rebounds and 4 steals in 39 minutes. With Michael Redd out for the season look for Delfino to have games like these.

Derrick Brown (Bobcats)- Brown had a breakout game vs. the Suns last Friday scoring 18 points with 2 steals. He was also 8-8 from the foul line and should bolster a weak Bobcats bench.

Cartier Martin (Warriors)- Martin has played 34 minutes in each of last two games for the injury plagued Warriors. If he receives consistent playing time he can be a cheap source for points and threes.

Chris Wilcox (Pistons)- Wilcox …

Confidence. The Jets have it. In fact, the Jets are so confident after whooping Cincinnati’s butt on Saturday, that Rex Ryan feels his team should not only be the favorite in the Super Bowl but also in the NBA playoffs. The first-year coach has his players believing that they can accomplish anything. He’s dispatched Dustin Keller to solve the Jay Leno/Conan O’Brien conundrum. The offensive line is drafting a health-care bill that will make everyone happy. And Bart Scott will be stepping in to replace Simon Cowell on American Idol. To paraphrase Yogi Berra: Sports are 90% mental, the other half is physical. And the Jets are not having any problems with the mental aspect of the game right now (nor the physical side either). Some feel there may be a little too much braggadocio in Jet land, but so far it’s working. Sitting at the other end of the confidence meter is the Nets. They do nothing but lose, and can’t even sniff a victory. Do …

Week 12 (Jan. 11-17)
Teams playing four games: Detroit, Indiana, L.A. Clippers, Miami, Milwaukee, New Orleans, New York, Oklahoma City, Phoenix, San Antonio, Utah, Washington
Teams playing three games: Atlanta, Boston, Charlotte, Chicago, Cleveland, Dallas, Denver, Golden State, Houston, L.A. Lakers, Memphis, Minnesota, Orlando, Philadelphia, Sacramento, Toronto
Teams playing two games: New Jersey, Portland

Randy Foye (Wizards)- Foye looks like the most to benefit from the most from the Gilbert Arenas suspension. Foye has started the past two games and has 43 points, 14 assists and 8 rebounds in this span.

A.J Price (Pacers)- Price scored a career high 23 points vs. the Thunder yesterday. The rookie has received more playing time since T.J Ford has been benched. The rookie is averaging 4 assists and 1 steal in 19 minutes this month.

Ronnie Price (Jazz)- If you own Deron Williams then you should pick up Price for depth. Price filled in for an injured Williams and dished out 15 assists in two games.

Ime Udoka (Kings)- Even though it came against the Warriors, Udoka had a breakout game last Friday. He recorded …

We’re only one week into 2010 and I’m already dropping the ball on my resolutions. In the past I’ve been more successful, such as the year I resolved to quit smoking cigarettes. I used one of those quit-smoking programs, with the patches and the gum and the whole nine yards. Unfortunately, the side effects included nausea, dizziness, vomiting, disorientation, hallucinations, agitation, hostility, amnesia, blindness, a hacking cough, lung cancer, throat cancer, the sudden loss of one’s extremities, and addiction to cigarettes, chewing tobacco and cigars. Sure, now I can’t see, I’m always falling down, I have no idea who I am, I have a hole in my throat and I’m constantly having hallucinations that Art Howe is standing beside me trying to sell me a time-share, but at least I don’t smoke anymore. This year I decided to stop being so humble, demur and shy and to play up my strengths, which means wearing more tank top shirts to show off my impressive shoulder and back hair and to stop hiding my disgustingly smelly feet, …

The NBA season is almost at it’s half way point and here is how the draft could go now:

Also this order depends on the strategy of the owner

1. Lebron James

James is averaging 28.6 points, 7.8 assists, 7.1 rebounds 1.6 threes, 1.5 steals and .9 blocks. He is shooting 50% from the field and 78% from the foul line. He is setting career highs in assists, threes and FG% this season.

2. Chirs Paul

CP3 has missed 8 games due to an ankle injury but started off the season red hot. He is averaging 19.8 points, 10.6 assists, 4.5 rebounds, 2.2 steals, 1.1 threes. He is shooting 50% from the field and 86% from the foul line. His 41% from three is a career high this season.

3. Kevin Durant

Durant has lived up to the pre-season hype and is only going to get better this season. He is averaging 28.4 points, 6.9 rebounds, 3 assists, 1.5 steals, 1.3 steals and .9 blocks per game. He is 5th in the NBA in foul shots per game  (9) and shooting a …