The Sports Section -- Sports News on NYMag.com by Will Leitch and Joe DeLessio

5/16/12 at 3:00 PM
Mets
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A Chat With the Mets’ Mike Baxter, Stuck in Traffic on the Way to the Ballpark

DENVER, CO - APRIL 29: Mike Baxter #23 of the New York Mets pinch hits for a base hit against the Colorado Rockies in the 10th inning at Coors Field on April 29, 2012 in Denver, Colorado. The Mets defeated the Rockies 6-5 in 11 innings. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Mike Baxter

The 2012 Mets have had a remarkable run of six-consecutive weeks in the imaginary playoffs. Among the many quirky, lovable gentlemen in the team’s clubhouse is Mike Baxter, a Whitestone, Queens, kid who grew up rooting for New York’s National League club. Yes, Baxter has hit the big time, but he’s still not immune to New York City traffic. “I left the house at 1:15 with the hopes of getting to the field like I normally do, at 1:30,” he told The Sports Section yesterday during his epic hour-and-a-half-plus drive from Long Island City to Citi Field. “It’s 2:42, and I’m, like, seven minutes away.” Baxter did eventually make it to the park, and his double was one of few bright spots in the Mets’ 8–0 loss to the Brewers. He graciously took a moment while battling through gridlock to talk about the squad’s start and what it’s like to live every young fan’s dream of playing for the home team.

A John Olerud fan.

5/16/12 at 1:30 PM
2013 Mlb All-star Game
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Reports About Citi Field Hosting the 2013 All-Star Game: A Timeline

By Joe DeLessio

NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 07: David Wright #5 of the New York Mets rounds the bases after hitting a home run in the first inning against the Atlanta Braves at Citi Field on April 7, 2012 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Chris Trotman/Getty Images)

At a press conference at City Hall today, it was announced that Citi Field will host the 2013 Major League Baseball All-Star Game. You may have already heard the news:

February 1, 2007
From the New York Times: "But Selig said that 'the Mets are on my radar screen' for being the hosts of the game in the near future."

July 10, 2007
From the AP via ESPN: "The Angels are a candidate for the 2010 game, and the Mets are a candidate for the 2011 or 2013 game, a pair of baseball officials said, speaking on condition of anonymity because Selig had not announced any decisions."

March 13, 2008
From the AP via ESPN: "The New York Mets have emerged as the likely host for baseball's All-Star game in 2013."

The least surprising announcement in baseball history happened today.

5/16/12 at 11:00 AM
Giants
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The Giants Will Get Their Rings Tonight

By Will Leitch

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - FEBRUARY 05: Co-Owners of the New York Giants John Mara, Steve Tisch and Ann Mara pose with the Vince Lombardi trophy after defeating the New England Patriots 21-17 during Super Bowl XLVI at Lucas Oil Stadium on February 5, 2012 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)

We take this brief hiatus from updating you on what each, individual denizen of this rotating orb we call Earth thinks about Mark Sanchez versus Tim Tebow to remind everyone that the Giants won the Super Bowl last year. They totally did. Remember that? It was great. Anyway, the Giants will receive their championship rings tonight at a ceremony at Tiffany's flagship store on Fifth Avenue. Yeah, it'll be a bunch of huge men gathering at Tiffany's. This doesn't seem like the right way to do it. The 2011 St. Louis Cardinals had been given their rings in a public ceremony — both those who still play for the Cardinals and those who have left, tracked down by Tony LaRussa — in front a cheering crowd. Tonight's ceremony is done in private, at a jewelry store. Do not like. What are the rings made of? "A 14k white gold 30 MM ring with surrounding diamonds, sapphire band (to represent Giants’ blue) and diamond footballs." Subtle.

5/16/12 at 9:30 AM
2012 Nba Playoffs
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Well, SOMEBODY Might Be Able to Beat the Heat

By Will Leitch

MIAMI, FL - MAY 15: David West #21 of the Indiana Pacers reacts to winning Game Two of the Eastern Conference Semifinals in the 2012 NBA Playoffs against the Miami Heat at AmericanAirlines Arena on May 15, 2012 in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

Like most of the right-minded basketball-loving public, the minute the Knicks lost to the Heat in Game Five, we switched our allegiance to "whatever team is playing the Heat." There are always logical arguments as to why the consistent vitriol — and it has been almost two years' worth of vitriol now — is misplaced, why the LeBron James–as-villain trope isn't exactly fair or justified ... but who wants to hear that? The story of the NBA for the next however many years is "When, if ever, will LeBron James get his title?" so the longer it takes for that to happen, the more everyone can feel better about turning on LeBron so dramatically in the first place. The Heat took a big step toward prolonging that story line last night.

Is Spike cheering for the Pacers?

5/15/12 at 5:00 PM
Knicks Power Rankings
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Knicks Power Rankings: The Class of 2012 Yearbook

By Seth Rosenthal

The rotations of Coach Mikes D'Antoni and Woodson were ever-evolving machines with parts that grew, shrunk, disappeared, and switched roles constantly. As part of our Knicks coverage all season, we tracked each player every Tuesday. Now, New York's season has ended, and it's time to look back through the yearbook. Come join us for the final Knicks Power Rankings of the season!

See this year's rankings.

5/15/12 at 3:00 PM
Linsanity
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The Knicks’ Whole Future Relies on Jeremy Lin Taking Less Cash

By Will Leitch

NEW YORK, NY - MAY 03: Injured point guard Jeremy Lin #17 of the New York Knicks looks on from the bench against the Miami Heat in Game Three of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals in the 2012 NBA Playoffs on May 3, 2012 at Madison Square Garden in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images)

One of the most commonly misunderstood aspects of NBA finance is the "give the guy what he deserves" principle. In a fair and just world, basketball players would get what they "deserve" — that's to say, close to what they actually "earn," at the gate, through jersey sales, by contributing to team victories, which contribute to gate receipts and TV money and all that. But that would be chaos, and we just had a lockout to show why. So we have all sorts of complicated rules to make sure teams are kept in check, to make sure every team can compete. (You might find this a shame; if there were no cap, the Knicks could essentially be the Yankees.) These rules are nearly impossible to understand, but they're in place for a good reason: Players should be able to earn the most they can while existing within the current structure. Which brings us to Jeremy Lin and how it's possible he may blow up the Knicks for the next five years.

Two million dollars a year, making a lot of difference.

5/15/12 at 1:00 PM
Oops
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Los Angeles Desperately Loves Its Hockey

We grimace at the "the Knicks are gone, but New York still has championship hopes in ... hockey?" local news, man-bites-dog coverage as much as anybody, but at least the white-white-toothed TV people here know what the Rangers' logo looks like. Awful Announcing grabbed this screenshot from NBC's L.A. affiliate last night from a piece about the three Staples Center teams still in the playoffs. Problem is, they chose the Sacramento Kings' logo instead of the Los Angeles Kings' one, despite the word Sacramento showing up in the logo along with the appearance of a basketball. (A commenter points out that the Clippers' logo is outdated, too.) If the Kings and Rangers end up meeting in the Stanley Cup Finals — and each team is up 1-0 in their series — you can expect us to bring this up again.

5/15/12 at 11:40 AM
Yankees
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Maybe We Should Just List the Yankees Who Aren’t Sick or Injured

By Joe DeLessio

BALTIMORE, MD - MAY 14: Catcher Matt Wieters #32 of the Baltimore Orioles looks on as Mark Teixeira #25 of the New York Yankees follows his two run home run during the seventh inning at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on May 14, 2012 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)

So, Mark Teixeira, who has been battling a cough for more than a month, hit the go-ahead homer in last night's 8-5 Yankees victory in Baltimore. Ivan Nova, the starting pitcher last night, struggled before leaving the game in the sixth inning with a sprained ankle. Clay Rapada, who relieved Nova, would leave the game with a viral infection after throwing just a third of an inning. Raul Ibanez, who reached base on a Chris Davis error in the sixth that scored two Yankee runs and tied the game at five, would leave the game in the ninth after getting hit by a pitch on the elbow. And David Robertson, who was given first crack at closing with Mariano Rivera on the disabled list, was unavailable last night because of a sore, left rib-cage muscle. The New York win makes four in four tries at Oriole Park this year and moves Joe Girardi's team to within a game and a half of the first-place O's. The Yankees — the ones who are healthy enough to play, at least — finish up their two-game series in Baltimore tonight.

5/15/12 at 10:32 AM
2012 Stanley Cup Playoffs
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The Familiar Feeling of a 1-0 Rangers Series Lead

By Joe DeLessio

NEW YORK, NY - MAY 14: Henrik Lundqvist #30 of the New York Rangers makes a save against Ilya Kovalchuk #17 of the New Jersey Devils as Ryan McDonagh #27 of the New York Rangers defends in the first period of Game One of the Eastern Conference Finals during the 2012 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Madison Square Garden on May 14, 2012 in New York City. (Photo by Paul Bereswill/Getty Images)

The Rangers beat the Devils 3-0 in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals last night, and this all seems rather familiar. Indeed, with the third round of these playoffs now underway, it feels as though the Rangers have trained us all to expect a counterpunch from the opponent in Game 2. As terrific as the Rangers played in the third period of last night's game, we've seen before how opponents have bounced back against this team and how a relatively comfortable victory in Game 1 has been merely the first strike in a tightly contested series. But is there any reason to believe these Eastern Conference Finals won't play out in much the same way?

Not yet, probably.

5/14/12 at 11:41 PM
2012 Stanley Cup Playoffs
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The Rangers Draw First Blood Against the Devils

By Joe DeLessio

NEW YORK, NY - MAY 14: Dan Girardi #5 of the New York Rangers celebrates ihs third period goal with teammates Derek Stepan #21 and Marian Gaborik #10 of the New York Rangers in Game One of the Eastern Conference Finals during the 2012 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Madison Square Garden on May 14, 2012 in New York City. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

In each of the first two rounds of these playoffs, the easiest of the four Rangers victories was the first of them. And, so, keep that in mind after tonight's 3-0 Rangers win in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals — one of the few Rangers victories in these playoffs that seemed pretty safe as the final seconds ticked off the clock. The Rangers are off to a good start in this series, but there's a long way to go.

During the second intermission, this game hardly looked like it would end with a 3-0 Rangers final.

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