Friday, March 30, 2012

Santa Anita Graded Entries

Post Time: 4:00 p.m.

FIRST-6 1/2 fur(T); $40,000; clm($40,0); 4up

PN Horse, Wt.

Jockey

Last 3

Odds

2 Talktoomuch(L)123

JTalam

1-4-3

1-1

6 MissdealorndlL121

KKriggr

4-5-1

3-1

1 ArrivederciCarL123

HBerris

1-2-5

6-1

3 LeathePunishrL121

MPedrz

5-5-3

6-1

4 Linda Lou(L),121

JRosari

5-8-1

4-1

5 MizzenDonald(L116

EFlores

7-2-4

8-1

SECOND-1 1/16m; $26,000; clm($20,0); 4up

PN Horse, Wt.

Jockey

Last 3

Odds

2 ReallyElegant(L121

EMldnd

7-1-8

8-5

5 TrippedthLghtL121

JRosari

2-1-2

9-5

1 LivingOurDremL116

EFlores

7-9-2

5-1

3 MagicalEclipseL123

JTalam

1-3-7

5-2

4 RealRockport(L)119

MPedrz

5-1-4

9-2

THIRD-6 1/2 fur(T); $58,000; alw; 4up(f)

PN Horse, Wt.

Jockey

Last 3

Odds

4 RomanticWishL118

EFlores

4-6-2

4-1

5 Schiaparelli(L),121

JTalam

1-x-x

5-2

1 Abella(L),121

MPedrz

3-1-4

8-1

2 Hout Bay(L),121

MSmth

2-7-2

15-1

3 PrincessSuncsL123

DFlores

6-3-3

6-1

6 Bench Glory(L),123

B Blanc

3-5-2

4-1

7 Deity(L),121

JRosari

2-5-11

3-1

8 Mrs. Rosa(L),121

GGomz

6-5-1

8-1

FOURTH-6 fur; $17,000; clm($8,000); 4up

PN Horse, Wt.

Jockey

Last 3

Odds

6 Storm Magic(L),121

FLencld

4-2-1

7-5

5 Folk Dancer(L),123

KKriggr

4-1-3

8-5

1 Sumalee(L),121

K Stra

5-7-3

12-1

2 MonStnMdnssL116

EFlores

4-8-7

6-1

3 FlashyTravelerL121

ACstnn

7-6-5

5-2

4 Terrify(L),121

DVergr

7-9-9

15-1

FIFTH-1m,(T); $26,000; clm($25,000); 4up

PN Horse, Wt.

Jockey

Last 3

Odds

1 ClearancClrncL124

JRosari

8-6-2

5-2

3 WrrnsWldThngL122

KKriggr

4-3-2

4-1

2 ThFlyngWhzzrL122

JTalam

7-6-11

5-1

4 Back At You(L),117

EFlores

6-2-9

6-1

5 AfleetCowboy(L124

MSmth

1-6-2

6-1

6 Gothics Peak(L),122

MPedrz

7-9-2

9-2

7 Warren'sKong(L122

DVergr

6-3-4

6-1

8 EmperorStone(L122

ABison

10-14-9

8-1

SIXTH-7 fur; $19,000; clm($20,000); 4up

PN Horse, Wt.

Jockey

Last 3

Odds

3 SmartHombre(L122

HBerris

2-3-7

5-2

8 Kumite(L),122

MGtrrz

2-x-x

3-1

1 CreativeWriterL122

KKriggr

5-x-x

5-1

2 SwissEmperor(L122

DVergr

2-4-5

8-1

4 YesterdaysRanL122

ACstnn

x-x-x

10-1

5 GiftedCrusaderL122

MPedrz

10-x-x

4-1

6 Salty Robbin(L),122

ADlgdll

13-2-2

4-1

7 DelMarJohnny(L117

EFlores

6-8-2

15-1

SEVENTH-6 1/2 fur(T); $63,000; alw; 4up

PN Horse, Wt.

Jockey

Last 3

Odds

7 SupremeSmmtL120

DFlores

2-4-8

7-2

4 Victory Pete(L),120

MGarci

13-3-2

5-2

1 SaratogaYankeL120

MSmth

4-3-1

15-1

2 SilverSummatnL120

AQnnz

7-5-2

12-1

3 ChosenMiracleL124

JTalam

1-2-3

7-2

5 Sayif(L),120

FLencld

4-6-5

9-2

6 Mobilized(L),120

GGomz

6-3-3

12-1

8 Red Defense(L),120

JRosari

3-3-7

3-1

EIGHTH-6 fur; $56,000; mdn; 3up(f)

PN Horse, Wt.

Jockey

Last 3

Odds

5 SeaJohn'sSpirit,124

JRosari

9-x-x

3-1

4 ExcessivlyTrckL124

JTalam

2-2-8

7-2

1 WarrensIntrntL116

MPedrz

x-x-x

6-1

2 Mel's Rules(L),111

EFlores

x-x-x

8-1

3 RoyalWeekendL116

AQnnz

2-x-x

5-1

6 FlamingFiesta(L124

ADlgdll

x-x-x

12-1

7 MaryContrary(L116

B Blanc

7-2-x

5-1

8 BudandBrandyL124

MSmth

5-2-4

10-1

9 Luckyvic(L),124

JVldvJr

4-4-3

6-1

4upPN Horse, PN Horse

Nypost.com

Thursday, March 29, 2012

Hong Kong property tycoons arrested on suspicion of corruption

Hong Kong -- Two of Asia's richest and most influential property tycoons were arrested Thursday in Hong Kong on suspicion of corruption, a case that has also ensnared a former top government official in one of the city's most high-profile bribery allegations in recent memory.

The arrests of the two chairmen at family-controlled Sun Hung Kai Properties Ltd. is a blow to the blue-chip company, one of the world's biggest real-estate developers, which has built some of the most iconic skyscrapers in Hong Kong's skyline. In a city where a small group of powerful organizations control real estate, transportation, supermarkets and communication, the sight of two tycoons walking into government offices to answer questions in a corruption case was riveting.

Thomas and Raymond Kwok were arrested Thursday by Hong Kong's anti-graft agency, Sun Hung Kai said in a statement. The Independent Commission Against Corruption also arrested the city's former No. 2 official, Rafael Hui, also on suspicion of bribery and on suspicion of misconduct in public office, a person familiar with the situation said. Sun Hung Kai also said the ICAC searched the company's offices Thursday.

The two Kwok brothers are heirs to their late father's property empire, taking the helm of Sun Hung Kai after ousting elder brother Walter in 2008, following a feud that erupted into a nasty boardroom battle and resulted in the appointment of their octogenarian mother as chairwoman the firm.

The ICAC issued a statement saying that two senior executives of a listed company in Hong Kong and a former principal official of the city's government have been arrested on suspicion of corruption. The company's shares were halted from trading early Thursday, some 20 minutes after the market opened.

No charges have been filed against the individuals. Hong Kong's laws, which are modeled after the British legal system, empower law-enforcement agencies to detain or offer bail to suspects before deciding whether to file criminal charges against them. No details were available about the case.

To read more, go to The Wall Street Journal

Sun Hung Kai Properties Ltd., Hong Kong, Sun Hung Kai, suspicion, Raymond Kwok, Independent Commission Against Corruption, corruption case, government official, corruption, corruption, Rafael Hui, government offices, bribery allegations, ICAC, city

Nypost.com

PSAL boys volleyball preview

One year after making the championship match, Bronx Science was upset last season in the PSAL boys volleyball second round by Hunter College HS. The early exit was a disappointment, but it’s in the past now. The Wolverines feel like they can get right back to the final and potentially bring hardware back to The Bronx.

“While we understand we're not head and shoulders above the competition and that anything can happen in a best of three,” coach Jeremy BasSie said, “the feeling is championship or bust.”

Really, the seeds of this season were planted two years ago when Science fell to Cardozo in the final. Four current starters were freshmen or sophomores on that team and three were pushing for playing time even then.

An Rong Xu

Bronx Science's Jerry Henriquez, an all-city setter, will lead the Wolverines this season.

The top guy in that group is sure-handed junior setter Jerry Henriquez, a Post All-City honorable mention selection last year. At 6-foot, he has exceptional size and he’s a year older and better.

The Wolverines might actually be the tallest contender in the city with 6-foot-5 senior middle hitter Preet Singh and 6-foot-3 middle Alex Barbulescu. Soo Chan and Alan Zhong are reliable outside hitters, three-year team members and also the team’s primary serve receivers. Opposite hitter Nate Chin, the brother of Post All-City first team girls volleyball player Melissa Chin of Stuyvesant, also returns and will make a significant impact.

“I joke by senior year [he] will make Melissa Chin be known as ‘Nate's sister,’” BasSie said.

The coach thinks this group, with all its experience and ability, has a chance to be even better than the 2010 squad.

“Fewer question marks, more well-balanced, significantly better chemistry,” BasSie said.

Bryant, the defending PSAL city champion, isn’t going to be as lethal as it was last year – and it can’t be expected to, not with the graduation of Post All-City Player of the Year Troy Gaugler. However, the Owls are going to be right back in the mix, perhaps exceeding the expectations of even their coach.

“I’m pretty happy,” coach Steve Hagenlocher said. “I thought this was gonna be much more of a rebuilding season. And almost everyone is coming back next year.”

His top returner is star libero Godwin Sequeira, a Post All-City first team member, who has added a jump serve to his repertoire.

“Now he’s not only preventing other teams from scoring, he’s scoring for us, too,” Hagenlocher said.

The rest of the team will be largely inexperienced. Sujan Panday returns at outside hitter and Kemal Loppies has the unenviable task of taking over for Gaugler as the team’s primary swinger from the outside. Hagenlocher thinks he has a chance to be a powerful weapon.

A pair of basketball players – 6-foot-3 Sabit Ceho and 6-foot-1 leaper Nate Boco – will take over in the middle. Ilias Alkandry will slide into the setter position.

“I think we’re gonna be in the top eight,” Hagenlocher said. “A lot of times where you’re seeded is huge.”

New Utrecht is coming off its first appearance in the PSAL semifinals in coach Jennifer Lopez’s decade-long tenure with the boys team at the Bensonhurst school and has a solid nucleus coming back.

“They have the experience now,” Lopez said. “They know what it is, playing in tournaments, seeing other teams. I think they understand it a little more. They got a little bit of a taste of it. They want to get back to that place.”

Middle hitter Kwok Tang Wong returns after a strong playoff run. Setter and on-court captain Jon Jiang is also back and so is libero Ming Ho Zeng, the team’s emotional leader off the court. Outside hitter Rong Ya Wu has shown serious promise, Lopez said, in just his first season playing organized basketball.

The Utes had more than 30 boys try out for the team – it’s a booming sport in the area, which is made up mostly of Chinese immigrants who have played volleyball recreationally either in their native country or here. Lopez had to cut players the last two seasons for the first time.

That has equaled to success.

“Hopefully we’d like to go as far or farther as last year, but we’ll see,” Lopez said.

Cardozo fell in the second round last season after winning three straight PSAL city championships. The Judges remain young, but are a year older than 2011 and could make some noise.

“At times we look like we can contend and other times it’s like, are we there yet maturity wise?” coach Danny Scarola said.

Junior outside hitter Tyler Gaugler, the younger brother of former Bryant star Troy and former Cardozo star Todd, will be one of the team’s top players, along with fellow outside Isaac Hwang. Both are a year older and physically stronger. Setter Youngsoo Shin is also back and there will be some new faces in the lineup, like 6-foot-3 middle Joseph Han, 6-foot right side Jung Min Shin, middle hitter Moses Park and right side Jason Wu. Middle Paul Kim is an exceptional athlete and will also contribute.

The battle for Scarola, who has won two straight girls volleyball titles at Cardozo, is getting his Judges to be more consistent.

“If we fix that,” he said, “we’re right there.”

mraimondi@nypost.com

PSAL, PSAL, PSAL, Bronx Science, The Wolverines, Melissa Chin, Jerry Henriquez, Wolverines, Steve Hagenlocher, volleyball, volleyball, volleyball, Hagenlocher, Jeremy BasSie, Troy Gaugler, BasSie

Nypost.com

Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Newbie Wallace wants to take lead for Nets

The Nets have won once in six games since Gerald Wallace was acquired in a deadline-day trade with Portland two weeks ago. But Wallace’s impact hasn’t been lost on Nets coach Avery Johnson.

“Gerald has been so good it’s scary,” Johnson said after yesterday’s practice ahead of tonight’s game against the Pacers at Prudential Center. “He’s just steady. ... He’s a flat-liner. We met this morning in my office and just talked about vision and talking about his role and the team’s not winning, and obviously he wants to win, but he likes what we’re doing here.

“He just wants to learn how he can be of more help in certain situations in leadership with the team. ... It was just a breath of fresh air when he came into my office this morning. He’s been great.”

Wallace, who is averaging 14.7 points and 6.2 rebounds since joining the Nets, admitted he was caught off-guard by the trade initially, saying he didn’t think he was on the block. But after spending some time with the team, Wallace said he is excited about its long-term potential.

“It’s just great working with the young guys, seeing how talented they are,” Wallace said, naming Anthony Morrow and rookie MarShon Brooks as examples. “They just need veteran help. There are some things that I can show them to help them be more consistent, and to improve their game and hopefully take their game to the next level.”

Though the Nets have been dealing with one injury after another, Wallace went through a similar situation in Portland.

Trail Blazers star guard Brandon Roy’s career was cut short before the season began because of knee troubles, and former No. 1 pick Greg Oden struggled with knee issues that led to his release earlier this month.

Now Wallace has joined a Nets team that is trying to cope with several long-term injuries, including having their only reliable low-post scoring threat, Brook Lopez, missing all but five games because of foot and ankle injuries.

That has kept him from seeing what the Nets, led by Johnson and general manager Billy King, hope will be a bright future for the franchise as it transitions to Brooklyn next season.

“I’m still looking at it, and trying to figure this all out,” Wallace said. “But with the talent they have, and with the opportunities they are going to have, I think it’s going to be pretty good.

“Plus, I still haven’t played with Brook. He’s a big piece of this organization, and he’s been out since I’ve been here. ... There’s a piece missing that could potentially boost us over from where we are right now, and I’m looking forward to that.”

tbontemps@nypost.com

Gerald Wallace, Wallace, Portland, Nets, Prudential Center, Anthony Morrow, MarShon Brooks, Brook Lopez online

Nypost.com

Tuesday, March 27, 2012

NYC boys lacrosse preseason rankings

Another boys lacrosse season is upon us and we here at The Post unveil our first-ever NYC rankings.

NYSAISAA champion Poly Prep sits at No. 1 with plenty back from a team that was red hot to end the year. NYCHSAA ‘AA’ winner Fordham Prep is second with a defense that could be the best in the city. The Ivy League has proven to be the cream of the crop as far as lacrosse is concerned in the five boroughs, but No. 5 Midwood has been the most successful PSAL program and it looks for a second straight city title.

Check out the rest of the rankings:

1. Poly Prep

Robert Cole

Goalie Dylan Moser and Poly Prep start the season No. 1 in The Post's NYC rankings.

The Blue Devils will look to win consecutive NYSAISAA. title. They will do so with a strong crop of returnees led by sensation midfielders Hugo Francis and Max Goupit, along with goalie Dylan Moser back in net.

2. Fordham Prep

The Rams feature arguably the best player in the city in All-American attack Ben Andreycak, who will lead an inexperienced offense. Defense will be the key starting with J.C. Sullivan and goalie Conor Gowan could be key to a CHSAA ‘AA’ state title run.

3. Fieldston

Coach Keith Bergin’s team was the class of New York City for nearly a decade before two sub-.500 seasons the last two years. With Tanner Morris and Grady Smith back this could be the year they return to that level.

4. Riverdale

The Bronx school will look to break through to the NYSAISAA final after two straight losses in the semifinals. Davis Karp, Harry Whitney and Hal Press led an inexperienced defense. Coach T.J. Barnett’s offense will need time to jell.

5. Mount St. Michael

The Mount is coming off its first ever CHSAA ‘A’ title and returns a strong core in search of a second straight crown. Attack Mike McEnaney will be the team’s main go-to scoring threat and Matt Visintin is expected to help facilitate the offense.

6. Midwood

Midwood is young, but there is a championship pedigree at the Brooklyn school, which won last year’s PSAL city title. Goalie Billy Ardamis was the hero of that final and will be back in net again this season.

7. Dalton

The Manhattan school reached a new level of success last year, but lost a core group of seniors. The Tigers left a feeling of winning behind that star attack Adam Philipps and superb midfielder Ben Vallimare will try to recapture.

8. Tottenville

Tottenville wants to erase the memory of last season where it felt it didn’t play well in a PSAL ‘A’ title game loss to Midwood. Hobart-bound Kenny Coughlin and fellow senior Cody Rivera will lead what could be a dynamic offense.

9. Monsignor Farrell

The Lions fell to Mount St. Michael in last year’s CHSAA Class A final and want to get back there and claim the crown. Goalie Joe Lio and James Anderson and Vincent DiMare lead what should be a solid defense.

10. Horace Mann

The Lions are in for a rebuilding season in coach Greg Quilty’s mind with few upperclassmen back. There is plenty of talent though with Ben Fox, Bennett Heller and Paul Tetenbaum at attack.

On the bubble: Cardozo, New Dorp, St. Joseph by the Sea and Xaverian

jstaszewski@nypost.com

Fordham Prep, Poly Prep, CHSAA, PSAL, PSAL, The Ivy League, Dylan Moser, NYSAISAA, defense, Mount St. MichaelThe Mount, Mount St. Michael, Midwood, Ben Andreycak, J.C. Sullivan

Nypost.com

Saints coach to attend NFL meetings

PALM BEACH, Fla. — So little was on the agenda at last year’s NFL meetings that the league cut them short by a day.

So much controversy is swirling this year that Roger Goodell could probably extend them by a week instead.

The owners listened to a opening-night address from former President Clinton last night, and there was no word on whether Clinton would stick around to play peacemaker amid the fallout from the Saints’ Bountygate scandal and the penalties handed down on the Cowboys and Redskins for salary-cap violations.

Dallas and Washington have filed grievances against the NFL and the players association for agreeing to penalize the Redskins $36 million in cap room and the Cowboys $10 million in cap room over the next two seasons. Their supposed crime: Spending too much in an uncapped year, which the league now claims was a violation of the spirit of the rules.

NOT ON SIDELINE: Saints head coach Sean Payton (above), suspended for the season, is allowed to attend NFL meetings.

EPA

NOT ON SIDELINE: Saints head coach Sean Payton (above), suspended for the season, is allowed to attend NFL meetings.

Both teams have signaled an interest in suing the league and union, too, but Giants co-owner John Mara said his two NFC East rivals actually got off light.

Mara, who is chairman of the NFL’s Management Council Executive Committee, said the teams were lucky they also weren’t forced to forfeit draft picks for violating “the spirit of the salary cap.”

“I thought the penalties imposed were proper,” Mara told reporters upon arriving at the palatial Breakers Hotel. “They attempted to take advantage of a one-year loophole, and quite frankly, I think they’re lucky they didn’t lose draft picks. They attempted to take advantage of it knowing full well there would be consequences.”

The massive penalties imposed on the Saints and former defensive coordinator Gregg Williams, meanwhile, will be a big topic of discussion — especially since the league still plans to suspend ex-Jets linebacker Jonathan Vilma and other players for their roles.

According to a league source, suspended Saints coach Sean Payton and general manager Mickey Loomis plan to attend the meetings in a move that could cause some awkward moments.

Payton was suspended an entire year by Goodell for his role in the cash-for-injuries scheme, but is allowed to attend because his suspension does not officially begin until April 1. Loomis was suspended for eight games — a ban that does not start until the regular season.

The owners also will vote on several proposed rules and system changes, including the prospect of making all replay reviews the responsibility of the booth official, reviewing every turnover, making the trade deadline two weeks later, overhauling injured reserve and giving temporary roster exemptions to teams that lose a player to a concussion.

bhubbuch@nypost.com

Roger Goodell, NFL, Sean Payton, NFL’s Management Council Executive Committee, Redskins, President Clinton, John Mara, the Cowboys, Saints coach Sean Payton, the Saints, the Saints, Jonathan Vilma

Nypost.com

Monday, March 26, 2012

Reds’ Madson done for year

Reds closer Ryan Madson has a torn ligament in his pitching elbow and will miss the season.

Madson returned to Cincinnati and was examined by team medical director Dr. Timothy Kremchek. The Reds said yesterday Kremchek told general manager Walt Jocketty the ligament was torn from the bone of Madson’s right elbow.

Madson agreed in January to a one-year contract guaranteeing $8.5 million, after a $44 million, four-year deal to stay with Philadelphia collapsed in November.

BRAVES: Third baseman Chipper Jones will miss the start of his farewell season.

Two days after Jones announced this will be his final year, Braves general manager Frank Wren said Jones will undergo arthroscopic surgery to repair torn meniscus in his left knee.

The procedure is scheduled to be performed tomorrow. The 39-year-old Jones will open the season on the disabled list, but the team expects him to miss just the first six games.

Wren said Jones should return in time for the April 13 home opener.

TIGERS: While Miguel Cabrera said he is ready to rejoin lineup, Detroit wants to wait for doctors to give their OK.

The third baseman broke a bone below his right eye Monday when struck by a bad-hop grounder.

Cabrera will be re-evaluated on Tuesday. Tigers manager Jim Leyland said he is confident Cabrera will be ready for Opening Day but also said a stint on the disabled list remained a possibility.

RAYS: Pitcher Matt Bush is being held on more than $1 million bail on charges he left the scene of an accident that seriously injured a motorcyclist.

Chipper Jones, Timothy Kremchek, Miguel Cabrera, torn ligament, Walt Jocketty, Ryan Madson, Pitcher Matt Bush, Kremchek, disabled list

Nypost.com

Saturday, March 24, 2012

Rangers need some forward thinking down stretch

headshotLarry Brooks
Follow Larry on Twitter
Blog: Slap Shots

Let’s get this out of the way right up top.

If the Rangers are as careless with the puck and then in getting back on defense after they turn it over as they were through last night’s 4-1 defeat to the Sabres at Madison Square Garden, it won’t matter one whit where they finish in the standings or who they meet in the first round, because that kind of hockey is guaranteed to result in early playoff elimination.

At the same time, let us also acknowledge that while last night may have marked an extreme departure from the baseline the Rangers established through the guts of the year, the team has been treading water for more than a month in winning only eight of the last 17 games (8-7-2), beginning with the 2-0 defeat to the Penguins in Pittsburgh on Feb. 21 that has become the season’s fulcrum for both clubs.

A combination of goaltending and guts has formed the foundation of the Rangers’ success and while there are still plenty of both to go around, they enter tonight’s match in Toronto in a state of disarray up front after scoring 10 goals in the last five games and their line combinations a mystery.

It will fall to John Tortorella over the final eight games to identify his top six forwards and then divide them into productive units. The coach took the first step in the third period by constructing lines of Derek Stepan-Brad Richards-Marian Gaborik and Brandon Dubinsky-Artem Anisimov-Ryan Callahan while dropping Carl Hagelin out of the rotation.

Except for the odd shift, this marked the first time since the seventh game of the season, Oct. 24 in Winnipeg, that Stepan moved out of his natural pivot position onto the wing.

The final period of the final game of this seven-game homestand also marked the first time since that final game of the season-opening road trip that Tortorella reunited the Dubinsky-Anisimov-Callahan unit that was a 2010-11 staple.

The Rangers enjoyed their greatest success this season when Stepan centered Gaborik and Anisimov through nearly all of November and December while Richards played with myriad combinations, but almost always with Callahan on his right.

“I’m not sure what I’m going to do with the lines,” Tortorella said. “We’re just not getting a big offensive play right now.”

The Rangers got a plethora of big plays from the Richards-Gaborik-Hagelin line early in the homestand; the three forwards recording all six of the team’s goals in consecutive games against the Hurricanes and Penguins.

But they failed to produce a goal the next four games before Tortorella shuffled things after the 40-minute mark, and also after Mats Zuccarello sustained a fractured left wrist blocking a shot midway through the first period.

“I don’t think all three of us have been going at the same time,” Richards said. “I think it’s been a one on, two off kind of thing where we were playing more as individuals.

“I think there were some shifts where we did have good jump and create chances but we got away a little bit from the fundamentals that are necessary to succeed. I think we need to recognize as a team that we can’t get away from our structure.”

The third period’s top six forwards are almost certain to remain in place for the foreseeable future. The question is in what order.

“I don’t know what to expect,” said Richards. “It’s all about results.”

larry.brooks@nypost.com

Rangers, John Tortorella, Tortorella, Derek Stepan-Brad Richards-Marian Gaborik, Larry BrooksFollow Larry, Madison Square Garden, Brandon Dubinsky-Artem Anisimov-Ryan Callahan, Mats Zuccarello

Nypost.com

Torre back working for MLB

Joe Torre has returned to the job of Major League Baseball’s executive vice president for baseball operations less than three months after he resigned the post to join a group trying to buy the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Commissioner Bud Selig made the announcement in a release Friday.

Torre managed the Dodgers from 2008-10, then retired and joined MLB in February 2011 as a top aide to Selig. He resigned Jan. 4 to be part of a group headed by real estate developer Rick Caruso.

Torre’s group dropped out of the bidding for the bankrupt ballclub Feb. 23 because current owner Frank McCourt won’t include in the sale the parking lots outside the stadium.

Senior vice presidents Kim Ng, Joe Garagiola, Jr., and Peter Woodfork, all of whom reported to Torre, shared the job that was left vacant after Torre left.

Joe Torre, Bud Selig, Joe Garagiola, Jr., Frank McCourt, Dodgers, Peter Woodfork, Major League Baseball, Kim Ng, MLB, real estate

Nypost.com

Friday, March 23, 2012

Buckeyes bid bye-bye to Bearcats

BOSTON — Cincinnati had its shot.

The Bearcats, who have been put in a corner by Ohio State, the behemoth state school that has refused to play its neighbor, got the Buckeyes last night on the biggest stage.

For a while early in the second half it seemed as if the Cincinnati Davids would topple the Ohio State Goliaths. It didn’t happen.

The Buckeyes played with the poise of a No. 2 seed to pull away for an 81-66 East Regional semifinal win in the NCAA Tournament.

Ohio State took a 21-6 roundhouse from Cincinnati and trailed 46-43. But the Buckeyes (30-7) responded with a 20-7 hook of their own to knockout the Bearcats.

Ohio State will face top-seeded Syracuse tomorrow for the right to go to the Final Four. Cincinnati finishes at 26-11.

“I think that we’ve come a long way,’’ Cincinnati coach Mick Cronin said. “I take a lot of pride in that. Nothing has been given to us.’’

It was the third of three games yesterday between the Big East against the Big Ten. Syracuse edged Wisconsin 64-63 and Louisville crushed Michigan State in the second half 57-44. The Big Ten saved face with Ohio State’s win.

The Buckeyes, perhaps as offensively talented as any team left in the tournament, got 23 points and 11 rebounds from power forward Jared Sullinger and 26 points and seven rebounds from Deshaun Thomas, who had 20 in the first half.

“We work well together,’’ Thomas said. “I think be one of the top forwards in the country from my eyes.’’

Cincinnati was led by Cashmere Wright’s 18 points and 15 points from Sean Kilpatrick of White Plains. The Buckeyes had four players in double figures, including guard Aaron Craft who had 11 points, six steals, five assists and four rebounds.

The Buckeyes led 37-25 at halftime and seemed to have too many weapons for the Bearcats. But Cincinnati used its physical defense and scrappiness to surge to the 46-43 lead. The Bearcats had made the game a rock fight.

Ohio State responded with feathery jumpers. The 81 points were the most allowed by the Bearcats since Feb. 11 when Marquette torched them for 95.

Ohio State, Ohio State Goliaths, Cincinnati, NCAA Tournament.Ohio State, Buckeyes, Cincinnati Davids, Bearcats, Bearcats, Michigan State, Deshaun Thomas, Jared Sullinger, Sean Kilpatrick

Nypost.com

Tiger 3 back at Bay Hill

ORLANDO, Fla. -- Charlie Wi felt a lot better walking off the golf course compared with his last round.

So did Tiger Woods.

Coming off a final round at Innisbrook in which he made a 13 on one hole, Wi made short work of the par 5s and finished with an 8-iron over the water to 6 feet for birdie on the 18th for a 6-under 66 in the Arnold Palmer Invitational.

That gave him a two-shot lead over Nick Watney among the early starters at Bay Hill.

The last time Woods was seen on the PGA Tour, he was being driven away in a golf cart after withdrawing in the middle of the final round at Doral with soreness and swelling in his left Achilles tendon.

Woods, a six-time champion at Bay Hill, opened with a 69 without breaking a sweat, much less breaking any body parts. There was nothing particularly special about this round, except for a 30-foot birdie putt that swirled around the cup at the 15th, and a couple of three-putt bogeys that kept his score from being lower.

“I didn’t really do anything great today,” said Woods, who had only two approach shots inside 15 feet on the par 3s and par 4s. “I was just solid all day. I drove the ball well, hit my irons decent and putted all right. It’s just one of those days where not a lot was going on.”

Maybe not in his group.

Behind him, though, it was a different story.

Phil Mickelson was all over the place, going from bunker to a magnolia tree on his way to an unlikely par; hitting a tee shot out of bounds for double bogey; hitting into the water for another double bogey; and somehow escaping with a 73.

In the group behind Mickelson, Anthony Kim made only two pars on the back nine for a 32 that shot him up the leaderboard. Kim followed two birdies with two bogeys, made two more birdies and then hit 5-iron on the 17th hole for an ace. He was leading until a pair of bogeys on the back nine gave him a 69, a good start for a guy who has been in the tank most of the year.

“I’ve been running my head into a brick wall,” Kim said. “So I moved away from the brick wall, and now I can swing and make some birdies out here.”

Justin Rose and Sean O’Hair also were at 69, while Ryder Cup captain Davis Love III and Bud Cauley were in the group at 68. Ernie Els, who might need to win to get into the Masters, played with Woods and shot 71.

Wi has been making news for all the wrong reasons this year. He had a three-shot lead going into the final round at Pebble Beach and four-putted the opening hole for double bogey, eventually finishing second.

Last week at the Transitions Championship was more comedy than tragedy. He already was toward the bottom of the leaderboard in the final round when he tried to hit a shot through a gap in the trees, and three times saw his ball hit the tree and carom out of bounds onto the practice range. He wound up with a 13 and shot 78, and didn’t give it much thought except when asked about it.

“That was just a blip on the radar screen,” Wi said. “Actually, I figured I should have gone for some tour record so at least I could be remembered.”

He doesn’t have many good memories of Bay Hill — he withdrew one year, missed the cut two other times and a tie for 24th last year, with a 66 in the third round. So at least he’s making progress.

This is Woods’ last tournament before the Masters, where he has not won since 2005. It’s part of eight straight days of golf, which began Sunday with a scouting trip to Augusta National, and there has been concern that his Achilles tendon might flare up again. Woods said he has no way of knowing if it will tighten up on him as it did at Doral, though he said he has dealt with tightness before and it didn’t linger.

Whatever the case, he wasn’t worried about it on a sunny Thursday morning in his former town.

“I’m just out there playing,” he said. “I’m feeling good. I’ve been getting treatment. Everything’s good. No swelling. If I can just keep it that way, everything will be great.”

It was a clean round, with a pair of two-putt birdies on the par 5s, along with a couple of three-putts. One came at the 17th for his lone bogey, and the other was on the par-5 fourth hole, when he was too aggressive with his eagle attempt and missed from 4 feet coming back.

Kim started the year at No. 78 in the world and wanted to play his way into the top 50 so he could qualify for the Masters. Instead, he has gone the other way in a hurry — four missed cuts, a disqualification, and a tie for 42nd at the Honda Classic. He has fallen to No. 120 in the world, surprising for a guy considered one of the rising Americans just four years ago at the Ryder Cup.

“I’m doing all the right things to get me closer to playing,” Kim said. “Getting the ball in the hole is not an issue. Getting the ball off the tee the last two years has been a struggle. I know I can get the ball in the hole. I just have to get the ball in the fairway.”

Anthony Kim, Kim, Woods, Woods, Bay Hill, Bay Hill, double bogey, Nick Watney

Nypost.com

Thursday, March 22, 2012

Business briefs

Chipped

A Federal judge yesterday ordered Chip Skowron, the former manager of Morgan Stanley’s FrontPoint Partners hedge fund, to pay his former firm $3.8 million in legal fees plus $6.4 million, representing 20 percent of his total compensation. Skowron, 42, is serving five years in prison following his insider-trading guilty plea last summer.

Fine Fed year

The Federal Reserve and its district banks earned the second-highest amount in its history last year as the central bank profited from increasing its balance sheet. The Fed said yesterday that it earned $77.4 billion, down from $81.7 billion in 2010.

Chased

JPMorgan Chase dismissed about 5 percent of its equities trading desk yesterday, Bloomberg reported.

Easy come . . .

Sears Holdings named former mall executive David Lukes to extract value from its real estate holdings.

. . . Easy go

Bank of America’s John McNiff, a managing director who served as co-head of trading in commercial mortgage securities, resigned.

Reuters

Copyright 2010 Thomson Reuters. Click For Restrictions

Chip Skowron, Federal Reserve, FrontPoint Partners online, Skowron, compensation, .Sears Holdings, Fed

Nypost.com

Ross leaves Giants for Jaguars

The Giants did not pursue cornerback Aaron Ross in free agency and his departure yesterday came as no surprise. Ross signed a three-year contract with the Jaguars that can be worth $15.3 million and now the Giants must hope Terrell Thomas’ knee and Prince Amukamara’s foot are healing and ready for heavy-duty workloads.

The decision not to make a play for Ross is based on the Giants’ belief Thomas can regain his form and once again be a starting cornerback. Thomas is on schedule coming back from surgery to repair his anterior cruciate ligament and, prior to free agency, was re-signed to a four-year contract that can be worth up to $28.4 million. More telling, the deal protects the Giants if Thomas cannot make a successful comeback, as it is really a one-year deal worth $2 million with a team option for the remainder of the contract.

UPDATES FROM OUR GIANTS BLOG

GIANTS SUPER BOWL SPECIAL

Last season the Giants were ravaged at cornerback, with five landing on season-ending injured reserve. Four of the cornerbacks — Thomas, Bruce Johnson, Michael Coe and Justin Tryon — were re-signed. The Giants are also counting heavily on Amukamara, their first-round pick in 2011, who missed the first seven games with a broken foot and, when he returned, endured significant growing pains.

This offseason Amukamara underwent Platelet Rich Plasma Therapy, an injection procedure to aid the healing process in his left foot. Running back Ahmad Bradshaw underwent the same procedure on his right foot.

Ross, 29, started at cornerback for the Giants’ two most recent Super Bowl victories and is the first of those two-time champions to leave. The Giants did not make a big play to keep the 2007 first-round pick.

He is the second key member of the Super Bowl XLVI championship team to exit, following receiver Mario Manningham, who signed a two-year deal with the 49ers. As with Ross, the Giants fully expected Manningham to leave.

paul.schwartz@nypost.com

Exclusive Super Bowl merchandise featuring New York Post front pages

Aaron Ross, Prince Amukamara, Giants, Terrell Thomas, The Giants, free agency, Bruce Johnson, cornerback, Mario Manningham

Nypost.com

Wednesday, March 21, 2012

Knicks' Lin puts on bloody good show

Everyone knew Jeremy Lin could play for Mike D’Antoni. Now he is showing he can play for Mike Woodson, too.

In his second straight dynamite outing, Lin got his nose bloodied in the first quarter, then bloodied the Raptors with an 18-point, 10-assist, three-turnover outing as the Knicks won 106-87 to move to 4-0 under their interim coach. It was Lin’s seventh double-double of the season.

“He is a point guard still in that learning mode,’’ Woodson said. “He is a good point guard. I think in time he’s going to be a really good point guard. All great point guards in the league learn how to get their teammates involved, defend and get involved themselves. That is the learning curve he is going through now.’’

The night began inauspiciously for Lin. Toronto’s DeMar DeRozan smacked him in the nose as he tried defending him at the perimeter. The game was stopped with 8:43 left to quell the flow of blood from Lin’s nose.

“It’s good,’’ Lin said. “I got hit, but I was good to go.’’

Lin got better as the game wore on, going 4-of-5 in the second half for 11 points. Despite an offense that is less spread for penetrations, Lin still is managing to score. He also finished plus-28.

In the fourth quarter, he hit a tough, falling-down jumper in the lane with the shot-clock expiring. He capped his night with a steal in the backcourt and fast-break dunk.

“I’m just trying to be aggressive,’’ Lin said. “I’m not sure how many shots I took. I was just trying to put pressure on the defense. ... Melo, Landry gave me some good passes when I was wide open. We’re just sharing the ball and trying to play fast. ... I’m not trying to prove anything. ’’

Jeremy Lin, Mike Woodson, Raptors, DeMar DeRozan

Nypost.com

Home Team Lineups

TODAY
Mar. 21

THU
Mar. 22

FRI
Mar. 23

SAT
Mar. 24

SUN
Mar. 25

MON
Mar. 26

TUE
Mar. 27

Knicks

Philadelphia
7:00
MSG Network
ESPN 1050 AM

NO GAME

Tor. 7:00 MSG ESPN

Det. 7:30 MSG ESPN

NO GAME

Milw. 7:30 MSG ESPN

NO
GAME

Nets

Washington 7:30
YES Network WFAN 660 AM

NO GAME

Atl. 7:30 YES WBBR

Charl. 7:30 YES WFAN

NO GAME

Utah
7:30 YES WFAN

NO
GAME

Rangers

Detroit
7:30
NBCSN
WBBR 1130 AM

NO GAME

Buff. 7:00 MSG2
WNYM

Tor. 7:00 MSG2
WBBR

NO GAME

NO GAME

Minn.
8:00
MSG
ESPN

Islanders

NO
GAME

NO GAME

NO GAME

T.B. 7:00 MSG+WRHU

Fla.
5:00 MSG+WRHU

NO GAME

Pitt.
7:00
MSG+2
WRHU

Devils

NO
GAME

NO GAME

Tor. 7:00 MSG+ WFAN

NO GAME

Pitt. 7:00 MSG WFAN

NO GAME

Chi.
7:00
MSG+
WFAN

Red Bulls

NO
GAME

NO
GAME

NO GAME

NO
GAME

Colo.
4:00
ESPN

NO
GAME

NO
GAME

&Tampa Bay
1:05
ESPN

&Bos. 7:05 YES

&^Min.
7:05
YES

&Det.
1:05
No TV

&^Det.
1:05
YES
WCBS

NO
GAME

&Tor.
7:05
YES

&St. Louis
1:05
No TV

&Hou. 1:10
SNY

&Atl. 1:10
No TV

&St.L. 1:10 WPIX
WFAN

&Wash.
1:05
No TV
WFAN

&St.L.
1:05
No TV

&Atl.
1:10
SNY

& - Spring training game; ^- Split squad

HOME

AWAY
Nypost.com

Tuesday, March 20, 2012

Moe opts to go pro

Moe Harkless, the regal and talented small forward from Queens, made it official yesterday. He announced he is ready to start his pro career after turning in arguable the best freshman season in the history of St. John’s basketball.

“It has been my lifelong dream to play in the NBA, and I am excited to have that opportunity to make the jump,” Harkless said yesterday at the Garden. “I am grateful to my teammates and coaches at St. John’s. I would like to thank Coach Lavin, our staff and my teammates for being there for me throughout the whole season.’’

“ We have been through a lot together and I know everyone is excited for me,’’ added Harkless. “ I know if we all keep working hard, a lot of us will be playing together in the league someday. I believe this is only the beginning for coach ‘Steve’ Lavin and his successful legacy at St. John’s.”

Harkless, the Big East Conference Rookie of the Year, was magnificent, despite playing out of position at the power forward. He averaged 15.5 points and 8.6 rebounds, opening league play by scoring 32 points against Providence to set a record for a conference debut.

The only concerns facing him are his size and the randomness of the draft. He weighs 209 pounds but certainly has the size at 6-8 to add muscle.

Harkless looked like a pro yesterday, wearing a grey sweater over a black dress shirt and matching tie with diamond studs in each ear.

The fact that most of the elite freshmen from the 2010-11 season remained in school because of the NBA’s labor strife could keep Harkless out of the first 20 picks. But his work ethic, potential and solid character could make him a great late first-round pick.

lenn.robbins@nypost.com

Moe Harkless, NBA, Harkless, вЂ

Monday, March 19, 2012

Karzai's Call for U.S. Pullout Is Toned Down

KABUL—The Afghan government qualified President Hamid Karzai's demand for an immediate withdrawal of U.S.-led coalition forces from Afghan villages, saying it will be the subject of negotiations that could take months.

Mr. Karzai stunned the U.S. and its coalition allies last week by demanding that foreign forces pull out from villages and into bases, a move that would cripple U.S. military strategy.

Related Video

Afghan President Hamid Karzai asked the U.S. to withdraw its troops from Afghan villages and to confine them to bases following a shooting rampage by a U.S. staff sergeant on Sunday, Eduardo Kaplan reports on Markets Hub. Photo: Reuters.

The Afghan president made the demand amid an outcry over the killing of 16 civilians by a rogue U.S. Army staff sergeant in the southern Kandahar province, the Karzai family's home.

Mr. Karzai's spokesman, Aimal Faizi, said in an interview Sunday that the Afghan president went public only after making similar requests in private conversations with senior U.S. officials and being ignored.

President Barack Obama and Mr. Karzai said following a telephone call Friday that they would keep discussing this issue. "There is progress," Mr. Faizi said. "Both sides have agreed that it is important to start negotiations" on the matter.

He said Kabul expected the Pentagon and the Afghan ministry of defense to begin talks in the near future on implementing the Afghan request. "I can't say how long these negotiations will take—days, weeks or months," Mr. Faizi said.

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KARZAI

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KARZAI

Reuters

Karzai spoke Friday with the families of civilians killed by a U.S. soldier.

Under existing transition plans, U.S. forces already are scheduled to transition from combat to a support and advisory role next year, ahead of transferring all security responsibilities to the Afghans in 2014. A senior U.S. official said Sunday that the U.S. was not making any changes to deployment and campaign plans following Mr. Karzai's statement.

American officials were puzzled last by week by what Mr. Karzai actually meant when he called for a pullout from villages. Some speculated that he simply wanted to dismantle small village outposts such as the one where the alleged shooter in Kandahar province was based.

Mr. Faizi, however, said that the Afghan president's demand was much broader, and included an end to military operations in villages in addition to moving forces from small outposts.

"It's about everything happening in the villages," Mr. Faizi said, adding that coalition troops could remain in larger bases located in district centers.

Write to Yaroslav Trofimov at yaroslav.trofimov@wsj.com

A version of this article appeared Mar. 18, 2012, on page A10 in some U.S. editions of The Wall Street Journal, with the headline: Karzai's Call for U.S. Pullout Is Toned Down.

President Hamid Karzai, Afghan president, Afghan president, Aimal Faizi, villages, villages, coalition forces, U.S. Army staff sergeant, The Afghan government, Barack Obama

Online.wsj.com

Sunday, March 18, 2012

Rangers play Avalanche with goalies struggling

It’s hardly a revelation that consistently superior goaltending formed the foundation of the Rangers’ run to the top of the East.

As the Rangers’ play has dipped pretty much across the board over the last two weeks during which time the club has gone 3-4-1 and 2-4 in the last six heading into tonight’s Garden match against the Avalanche (7 p.m., MSG2, WBBR [1130 AM]), that includes the work of Henrik Lundqvist and Martin Biron.

There have been more rebounds surrendered, fewer pucks covered, more first-shot goals allowed, more bounces going the other way.

Rangers goaltenders have allowed three goals or more in seven of their last eight in recording a combined 3.22 goals-against average and a .879 save percentage over that stretch after having surrendered as many as three in a game in just three of the previous 14 and seven of the prior 28 matches.

This from a tandem that ranks third overall in the NHL with a 2.02 GAA (behind the Blues’ Jaroslav Halak and Brian Elliott and the Kings’ Jonathan Quick and Jonathan Bernier) and second overall with a .928 save percentage behind the St. Louis duo.

Lundqvist, who missed the last two games because of the flu, said yesterday he is healthy enough to return against Colorado, 22nd overall in the league, scoring 2.49 goals per game.

The Rangers need The King to be at his best, to be as impregnable as he had been from Jan. 21 through Feb. 27 when he allowed two goals or fewer in 12 straight starts including four shutouts, a stretch in which he recorded a 1.23 GAA and .933 save percentage.

The power play has been up and (mostly) down all year. The forecheck game has been good, but not quite consistent. The Rangers have routinely won games in which they have spent more time in their own end than in the offensive zone.

The Rangers have won those games because of their goaltending, but not enough lately. The Rangers need to improve their game as a unit. They need to get more offense from everyone other than the Brad Richards-Marian Gaborik-Carl Hagelin unit, whose work has just about been extraordinary since constructed midway through last Sunday’s game against the Islanders. They need stronger play from the defense on and away from the puck.

But more than anything, the Rangers need their goaltenders to return to the top of their respective games.

* Ryan Callahan — who has missed three straight and four of the last eight with a right foot injury — and Michael Del Zotto — who has been sidelined for four straight and five of the last eight with a right hip issue — both went through yesterday’s complete practice. The winger and defenseman each reported that no decision could be reached regarding availability for tonight’s match until at least this morning.

Artem Anisimov, who suffered a left shoulder injury on a check from Joe Vitale that forced him out of Thursday’s 5-2 loss to Pittsburgh at the 14:52 mark of the second period, did not skate and is likely unavailable tonight.

Steve Eminger (undisclosed injury) and Ruslan Fedotenko (flu) also were not on the ice.

larry.brooks@nypost.com

Henrik Lundqvist, Rangers, Jaroslav Halak, GAA, Jonathan Bernier, Michael Del Zotto online, Jonathan Quick, Brian Elliott

Nypost.com

Friday, March 16, 2012

Kozlowski in NYC work release

The new home of felon and ex-Tyco International Chief Executive Dennis Kozlowski, while not furnished with the $6,000 shower curtain and paintings by Monet and Renoir that decorated his previous Manhattan abode, has a stunning view of Central Park and the New York skyline.

Convicted in 2005 of looting his company, Kozlowski was transferred from an upstate prison to the Lincoln Correctional Facility, a minimum-security site on Manhattan’s 110th Street near Fifth Avenue, on the north border of the park. He leaves every weekday morning to participate in a work-release program, said Peter Cutler, a spokesman for the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision. Kozlowski is still serving a prison sentence of 8 1/3 to 25 years,

International Chief Executive Dennis Kozlowski, Lincoln Correctional Facility, Kozlowski, shower curtain, stunning view, New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision, Peter Cutler

Nypost.com

Monday, March 12, 2012

Yankees INF Nunez out with bruised hand

Yankees infielder Eduardo Nunez said yesterday he was expecting a doctor to take a look at his bruised right hand.

Nunez, who hasn’t played in a week since getting hit by a pitch against the Phillies, said he felt discomfort on a day when he didn’t swing a bat.

The plan, according to manager Joe Girardi, was for Nunez to rest the hand yesterday and today and possibly return tomorrow against the Red Sox.

“If it lingers more than that, I will be somewhat concerned,’’ Girardi said.

Though Nunez isn’t a regular, he is an integral part of the roster since he can play short, third and second. And he got a small taste of the outfield last year.

With Girardi planning to watch Alex Rodriguez and Derek Jeter carefully to make sure they don’t wear down, Nunez will fill in for them when they DH or are rested.

* Mariano Rivera made his spring debut yesterday against the Phillies in Tampa. In a perfect inning, Rivera threw 14 pitches (10 to Luis Montanez) and was clocked at 87 to 89 mph with one fastball reaching 91.

“What’s new?’’ Girardi said of Rivera’s outing.

With 26 days until Opening Day, Rivera will work on a schedule that allows him to pitch seven or eight innings.

“He will have a couple of days off [between games],’’ Girardi said. “He has plenty of time, there is no rush.’’

* Catcher Austin Romine was behind Francisco Cervelli in the competition to be Russell Martin’s backup when camp opened because Cervelli has been a big league backup and Romine hasn’t played a full season of Triple-A.

Now, after Romine has been idle since the start of camp with an inflamed back, Cervelli is almost a lock to back up Martin, who can be a free agent after the season. Yesterday against the Twins Cervelli went 3-for-3.

That, however, hasn’t diminished the Yankees’ view of Romine, who appeared in nine games last year.

“At some point, he can be an everyday player,’’ Girardi said of the 23-year-old.

* Reliever David Robertson, who suffered a bone bruise on the top of his right foot when he fell down stairs carrying empty boxes at his home Wednesday, is scheduled to shed the walking boot today.

Girardi said if pain persists the boot will stay.

* Rodriguez, Robertson and Tino Martinez communicated with Indiana mother Stephanie Decker yesterday via Apple Facetime.

Decker saved her two children’s lives by acting as a shield during a recent tornado that destroyed their home. However, Decker had parts of each leg amputated.

The children were photographed in Yankees shirts after the disaster.

george.king@nypost.com

Joe Girardi, Eduardo Nunez, Nunez, Mariano Rivera, Francisco Cervelli, Phillies, Alex Rodriguez, Catcher Austin Romine online, Russell Martin, Twins Cervelli, Derek Jeter, Luis Montanez, Tino Martinez

Nypost.com

Saturday, March 10, 2012

Monticello Results

WEATHER Clear TRACK Fast

FIRST-mile; pace; $2800; cond

OFF: 12:54 TIME: 1:58.3

3

SmsFortun(JMrohnJr)

5.70

3.00

2.30

2

MyMellowAmerican(TGale)

4.80

4.10

1

Windmill Fella (M Merton)

9.80

* Perfecta (3-2) $17.80 * Trifecta (3-2-1) $76.50 * Superfecta (3-2-1-5) $241.00

Winner picked by Little

SECOND-mile; trot; $2700; cond

OFF: 1:13 TIME: 2:05.1

1

SweetesGrl(MMrton)

4.00

2.60

2.40

3

Bet I Win It (J Taggart Jr)

3.90

3.40

6

Batu Khan (R Harp)

6.30

* Perfecta (1-3) $23.60 * Trifecta (1-3-6) $275.00 * Daily double (3-1) $10.00 * Superfecta (1-3-6-2) $1,106.00

Double picked by Little

THIRD-mile; pace; $2700; cond

OFF: 1:32 TIME: 1:58.2

1

JkeofDmonds(MFort)

4.40

2.90

2.20

7

Son of Ben (J Marohn Jr)

3.70

2.70

5

Civilized Hanover (J Taggart Jr)

2.20

* Perfecta (1-7) $21.20 * Trifecta (1-7-5) $53.50 * Pick 3 (3-1-1) $59.00 * Superfecta (1-7-5-6) $350.50

FOURTH-mile trot; $2000; cond

OFF: 1:51 TIME: 2:04.2

1

EngmrBnnsBst(MFrt)

30.00

9.70

6.00

6

Kims Beauty (J Taggart Jr)

4.10

2.90

7

Gate Keeper (K Switzer Jr)

4.10

* Perfecta (1-6) $1,130.50 * Trifecta (1-6-7) $842.00 * Pick 3 (1-1-1) $193.00 * Superfecta (1-6-7-3) $2,746.00

FIFTH-mile; pace; $3400; cond

OFF: 2:14 TIME: 1:58.2

5

PrmrosPth(JMrohnJr)

16.60

9.40

4.80

7

Uncle David (C Stratton)

11.60

5.20

2

Bettorthanicecream (J Taggart Jr)

3.40

* Perfecta (5-7) $168.00 * Trifecta (5-7-2) $867.00 * Pick 3 (1-1-5) $629.00 * Superfecta (5-7-2-3) $3,771.00

SIXTH-mile; trot; $3400; cond

OFF: 2:33 TIME: 2:01.2

4

ChromFnsh(MMrton)

2.80

2.30

2.20

7

Cimmaron Hall (G Merton)

6.00

3.30

8

M S Heather M (J Taggart Jr)

5.30

* Perfecta (4-7) $18.80 * Trifecta (4-7-8) $118.50 * Daily double (5-4) $47.60 * Pick 3 (1-5-4) $578.00 * Superfecta (4-7-8-6) $816.00

SEVENTH-mile; pace; $2000; cond

OFF: 2:52 TIME: 2:01.0

6

GotGoBullvll(AButttt)

10.20

6.00

4.00

4

Garcenier (M Merton)

6.60

3.60

3

Cards N Music (J Taggart Jr)

3.80

Scr: Twenty-Six-Shooter.

* Perfecta (6-4) $49.60 * Trifecta (6-4-3) $161.50 * Pick 3 (5-4-6) $469.00 * Superfecta (6-4-3-2) $1,049.00

EIGHTH-mile; pace; $3400; cond

OFF: 3:11 TIME: 1:59.2

5

ComancheHll(JDevux)

11.40

5.60

5.50

4

Gas It Cam It (M Forte)

3.90

2.90

1

Actor Hall (T Gale)

6.20

* Perfecta (5-4) $54.00 * Trifecta (5-4-1) $253.00 * Pick 3 (4-6-5) $376.50 * Superfecta (5-4-1-7) $1,545.00

NINTH-mile; trot; $2000; cond

OFF: 3:34 TIME: 2:04.0

6

Sjs Leo (M Merton)

7.00

4.20

3.10

8

Over The Limit (J Marohn)

7.40

4.50

4

Lively Moment (J Taggart Jr)

2.10

* Perfecta (6-8) $46.60 * Trifecta (6-8-4) $139.00 * Daily double (5-6) $73.80 * Pick 3 (6-5-6) $712.00 * Superfecta (6-8-4-3) $299.00

TENTH-mile; trot; $2700; cond

OFF: 3:54 TIME: 2:02.0

3

SweetLucfr(KSwtzrJr)

14.60

4.60

2.80

5

Xtreme Talent (M Forte)

4.00

2.20

4

Vijay Star (J Marohn Jr)

2.60

Scr: See Through It.

* Perfecta (3-5) $50.00 * Trifecta (3-5-4) $132.00 * Pick 3 (5-6-3) $256.00 * Superfecta (3-5-4-1) $258.00

ELEVENTH-mile;pace; $2000; cond

OFF: 4:17 TIME: 1:58.4

3

OgsBwchtskP(BNlsn)

35.80

28.20

5.10

5

Ya Gotta Belief (M Forte)

8.60

2.70

2

Savvy Hawk (K Switzer Jr)

2.10

* Perfecta (3-5) $267.50 * Trifecta (3-5-2) $2,091.00 * Pick 3 (6-3-3) $2,072.00 * Superfecta (3-5-2-6) $8,846.00

TWELFTH-mile; trot; $3400; cond

OFF: 4:37 TIME: 2:01.3

3

Puzzlement(MMrxJr)

4.20

2.40

2.10

4

Baaria (A Buttitta)

2.70

2.10

7

Bullville Win (J Marohn)

10.00

* Perfecta (3-4) $11.80 * Trifecta (3-4-7) $116.50 * Pick 3 (3-ALL-3) $12.20; Pick 3: ALL-3-3 $307.50 * Superfecta (3-4-7-1) $896.00

Winner picked by Little

J Taggart Jr, M Merton, M Merton, Trifecta, J Marohn Jr, J Marohn, Superfecta, K Switzer Jr

Nypost.com

Friday, March 9, 2012

Tampa Bay Graded Entries

Post Time: 12:25 p.m.

FIRST-7 fur; $9,000; clm; 4up

7-My Boy Myka

5-2

4-Golf Pal

6-1

1-Thisonefrrger

30-1

5-Regal Rosetti

5-1

2-Congratulator

3-1

6-Gandolf

7-2

3-Summerlucky

9-2

SECOND-6 fur; $21,400; alw; 4up(f)

4-Island Time

9-5

1-a-Bobbiesqeen

2-1

1-a-Daddy'sHonr

2-1

5-Gilhooly'sSuper

3-1

2-Cat Ferrad

10-1

6-SpnshAmbssdr

8-1

3-Viola

8-1

a-coupled

THIRD-6 1/2 fur; $9,000; clm; 3YO

4-Horizonbound

6-5

5-Marginalsaint

6-1

1-Woods Hole

4-1

6-Sly Wink

20-1

2-Doing Without

6-1

7-Kelli Wised Up

15-1

3-Ducklund

20-1

8-Dubai Time

9-2

FOURTH-5 1/2 fur; $9,000; clm; 4up

8-TheSilverMdnn

8-5

4-Sameo Cat

20-1

1-Barbarules

7-2

5-Youcancllmery

5-2

2-Wind Kissed

20-1

6-PrayngfrPpers

20-1

3-Quiet Lady

15-1

7-Unbridled Truth

9-2

FIFTH-1m(T); $16,500; clm; 3YO

7-Prized Assault

5-2

5-ElMuchoGrande

8-1

1-Mr. Threewitt

12-1

6-Choral Society

3-1

2-Imperial'sCtch

15-1

8-Dynfrmersdmn

6-1

3-Vitium

4-1

9-Kngfthehghees

8-1

4-Fine Chap

20-1

SIXTH-7 fur; $10,000; clm; 3up

5-Brief Holiday

5-2

6-WithExcellence

7-2

1-Cayenne Lady

15-1

7-Shan's River

9-2

2-Catty Patty

8-1

8-Frazier'sFinest

12-1

3-Vlentne'sAnge

10-1

9-Country Isle

15-1

4-Sassy Lil Fox

4-1

SEVENTH-1 1/16m(T); $21,200; alw; 4up

3-Katrina'sPrince

4-1

6-Leroy's Pride

8-1

1-Lauburu

2-1

7-Irish Wildcat

8-1

2-Gold Brew

20-1

8-Fifth District

5-1

4-Robynhood

10-1

9-Bellamy's Boss

6-1

5-Da Big Dawg

15-1

10-Dixie Cowboy

30-1

EIGHTH-5 fur; $14,000; clm; 3YO

9-SwiftwaterRge

2-1

5-Guard Duty

20-1

1-Jewelian'nRses

5-2

6-Cat Squalls

10-1

2-DistinctiveMve

4-1

7-Em Challenger

15-1

3-Quetzalito

8-1

8-DadCGFstTger

15-1

4-Relentless Rob

10-1

NINTH-1 1/16m(T); $21,200; alw; 4up

3-True Strike

4-1

6-Big Top

6-1

1-Annawon

3-1

7-Prized Humour

8-1

2-Carbon County

5-1

8-Carrots

20-1

4-Play It Straight

9-2

9-GonnaTellMm

20-1

5-CncrdeExpess

12-1

10-Ellio

10-1

TENTH-1 1/16m; $10,000; clm; 3up

4-ForbddenDncer

3-1

7-Euro Tiger

30-1

1-Dark Vision

5-2

8-Forever Zeal

30-1

2-Doc'sSgrShck

15-1

9-Zee Are One

5-1

3-Riki McD

4-1

10-SchoolBoyHert

6-1

5-Meteor Streak

12-1

11-SpeaktheWord

6-1

6-Roll On Rouge

15-1

ELEVENTH-1 1/16m(T); $15,000; clm; 3YO

9-Dani'sRegalLdy

5-2

7-Don't Insist

5-1

1-Pavarotti Miss

15-1

8-Spelling Test

9-2

2-Crystal Glitter

20-1

10-Spanish Blus

10-1

3-Clara J

20-1

11-Dreamspell

2-1

4-Point Kris

20-1

12-Kira's Wink

20-1

5-Even Change

6-1

13-Jewels Verde

10-1

6-Patrica's Right

7-2

14-Sweetdrmsgle

8-1
Nypost.com

8,000 more people filed for state unemployment benefits last week

WASHINGTON -- The number of Americans filing initial claims for state unemployment benefits rose by 8,000 last week to a seasonally adjusted 362,000, the Labor Department said Thursday, hitting the highest level in five weeks.

Economists surveyed by MarketWatch expected claims in the week ended March 3 to climb to 355,000. Claims from two weeks ago were revised up to 354,000 from 351,000.

The four-week average of claims, meanwhile, rose by a scant 250 to 355,000. The monthly average smooths out seasonal quirks and provides a more accurate view of labor-market trends.

Continuing claims -- payments to people already approved for jobless benefits -- increased by 10,000 to a seasonally adjusted 3.42 million in the week ended Feb. 25. Continuing claims are reported with a one-week lag.

About 7.39 million people received some kind of state or federal benefit in the week ended Feb. 18, down 111,222 from the prior week. Total claims are reported with a two-week lag and are not seasonally adjusted.

To read more, go to MarketWatch

MarketWatch, initial claims, unemployment benefits, Labor Department online

Nypost.com

Thursday, March 8, 2012

Tomorrow’s Aqueduct Entries

All horses appear in post position order

FIRST-1m; $34,000; cl($16,000); 4up; (f&m)

PN Horse, Wt.

Jockey

Last 3

Trainer

Odds

1 Pleasantfriday(L),123

CVelasquz

1-1-5

Rice

2-1

2 Chalk Player(L),120

J Espinoza

3-5-6

Persaud

15-1

3 Beautiful Risk(L),120

L Perez

2-1-5

Grusmrk

6-1

4 SocialStatemnt(L),120

D Cohen

4-3-5

Galluscio

7-2

5 Hoopskirt(L),120

RDomingz

1-3-2

Quick

5-2

6 Wise Choice(L),120

I Ortiz, Jr

4-6-3

Sciacca

12-1

7 SurroundSound(L),115

SCamchJr

5-5-1

Serey

8-1

SECOND-6f; $50,000; mdn spcl wt; 4up

PN Horse, Wt.

Jockey

Last 3

Trainer

Odds

1 Russian Ally(L),122

CVelasquz

2-2-2

Rice

3-1

2 Johardy(L),122

J Davis

3-6-3

Barker

4-1

3 SayMr.Sandmn(L),122

A Garcia

4-2-x

Englehart

7-2

4 Winloc'sJohnLe(L),122

R Silvera

3-2-6

Gullo

15-1

5 Titus Catienus(L),122

I Ortiz, Jr

2-8-11

Levine

5-1

6 Ecstatic Cat(M),117

SCamchJr

x-x-x

Serey

15-1

7 Tycoon Cat(L),122

R Curatolo

6-2-5

Rice

4-1

8 John Joe(L),115

G Rivera

7-5-8

Fenessy

20-1

THIRD-6f; $28,000; cl($15,000); 4up; (f&m)

PN Horse, Wt.

Jockey

Last 3

Trainer

Odds

1 NumbrOnChrry(L),120

I Ortiz, Jr

4-1-3

Arriaga

4-1

2 Strategic Sue(L),120

R Curatolo

5-3-7

Morrison

5-1

3 TimeMarchsOn(L),123

A Garcia

7-1-4

Englehart

5-2

4 Katy'sOfficeGirl(L),120

J Pezua

5-5-7

Odintz

15-1

5 SimpleExchang(L),120

A Lezcano

4-7-3

P Kelly

10-1

6 Skiddles n' Bob(L),120

CVelasquz

10-1-4

Hough

8-5

7 HookintheGods(L),120

JRodriguz

10-12-10

Hooper

30-1

FOURTH-1m; $30,000; mdn cl($16,000); 3up

PN Horse, Wt.

Jockey

Last 3

Trainer

Odds

1 a-PegasusPapo(L),123

RDomingz

3-2-3

Persaud

5-1

2 War Hitch(L),116

C Lopez

3-5-5

Gullo

4-1

3 MeckeMeShoot(L),116

J Sone

7-6-6

Kettell

30-1

4 BlakeStreetBlly(L),116

R Curatolo

3-7-3

Gimbnc

15-1

5 Terrox(L),123

J Pezua

4-6-4

Parker

30-1

6 Advanceandrtrt(L),116

H Ramos

7-7-12

Clarke

30-1

1A a-Poke Slam(L),123

RDomingz

6-x-x

Persaud

5-1

7 ChampagneCty(L),116

M Luzzi

4-8-9

Romans

10-1

8 That's for Sure(L),116

D Cohen

4-8-x

Englehrt

10-1

9 Indigene Charm(L),123

J Alvarado

7-2-6

J Jerkens

4-5

a-Coupled

FIFTH-6f; $51,000; 3YO; (f)

PN Horse, Wt.

Jockey

Last 3

Trainer

Odds

1 Ode to Sami(L),113

SCamchJr

2-6-1

Contessa

2-1

2 BlushingMartha(L),118

J Alvarado

3-3-3

Reed

9-5

3 World Premier(L),118

R Curatolo

3-1-x

Contess

12-1

4 Love YourSmile(L),120

RDomingz

1-x-x

Goldberg

3-1

5 Get Er Up(L),118

I Ortiz, Jr

1-2-2

Romans

4-1

SIXTH-6f; $34,000; mdn cl($35,000); 3up

PN Horse, Wt.

Jockey

Last 3

Trainer

Odds

1 Greeley Pack ,116

J Espinoza

x-x-x

Feron

20-1

2 Even Got Quiet(L),116

J Davis

2-8-5

Odintz

5-2

3 Firebay(L),111

SCamchJr

3-x-x

Rice

6-1

4 King Kreesa(M),116

L Perez

x-x-x

Englehrt

12-1

5 Quiet Eyes(L),116

J Alvarado

4-5-5

R Dutrow

9-5

6 SheridanSquar(L),111

JRodriguz

4-7-4

Hertler

20-1

7 Robert'sBrech(M),116

RDomingz

x-x-x

R Dutrow

5-1

8 Rockheaded ,116

CVelasquz

x-x-x

Levine

6-1

SEVENTH-1m&70y; $46,000; cl($30,000); 4up

PN Horse, Wt.

Jockey

Last 3

Trainer

Odds

1 Understatemnt(L),118

D Cohen

2-2-7

Jacobson

5-2

2 Endymion(L),118

E Vaz

4-3-5

Kazamias

5-1

3 Tap Attack(L),118

I Ortiz, Jr

6-2-7

Persaud

20-1

4 Ever a Friend(L),118

CVelasquz

2-4-1

Stoklosa

8-1

5 Saginaw(L),118

RDomingz

4-5-2

R Dutrow

2-1

6 Day of Destiny(L),118

E Castro

5-3-9

Shvmngl

10-1

7 Poni Colada(L),113

SCamchJr

2-2-2

Jacobson

7-2

EIGHTH-1m; $34,000; cl($15,000); 4up

PN Horse, Wt.

Jockey

Last 3

Trainer

Odds

2 Free Brave(L),120

I Ortiz, Jr

2-5-2

Scott

5-1

3 MountKarakrm(L),120

JRodriguz

9-4-10

Hooper

50-1

4 Ferocious Won(L),120

R Silvera

5-3-5

Sciacca

20-1

1 a-BerniethMstr(L),120

D Cohen

6-3-9

Jacobson

8-5

5 Perfection Plus(L),120

M Luzzi

1-4-2

R Dutrow

6-1

6 Hardshell(L),120

C Lopez

1-9-5

Baker

3-1

1A a-Ruffino(L),120

D Cohen

3-2-4

Jacobson

8-5

7 Hubbard(L),120

J Davis

5-7-5

Coffey

30-1

8 Cinder Cone(L),120

CVelasquz

2-8-9

Englehrt

10-1

9 The Ole Gen(L),120

RDomingz

9-2-6

Good

8-1

a-Coupled

NINTH-1m; $30,000; mdn cl($15,000); 3up; (f&m)

PN Horse, Wt.

Jockey

Last 3

Trainer

Odds

1 Blissful Belle(L),123

J Sone

6-4-3

Kettell

15-1

2 Mattie'sWarrior(L),118

JRodriguz

6-5-4

DiPrima

10-1

3 Private Councel(L),123

L Perez

2-3-6

Goodwin

4-1

4 Carrot Thief(L),118

SCamchJr

3-2-2

Quick

3-1

5 Cantstoplovngs(L),118

G Rivera

4-4-6

Serey

12-1

6 Sonata River(L),116

C Lopez

4-7-x

Galluscio

8-1

7 Mommy'sDerst(L),123

A Lezcano

2-2-6

Henry

7-2

8 Rum Till I Die(L),116

JRodriguz

6-3-5

Persaud

20-1

9 Desert Speed(L),116

CVelasquz

7-x-x

Hennig

6-1

10 If Not for Morty(L),116

J Davis

12-9-x

Strecher

30-1

PN Horse, PN Horse, PN Horse, PN Horse, 4upPN Horse ebook download, 4upPN Horse, cl, cl, cl, 3upPN Horse

Nypost.com

Tuesday, March 6, 2012

Judge rules Mets' owners must pay back phony Madoff profit$

Call this the payback pitch.

The Mets' owners will have to cough up their phony profits from investing with Ponzi schemer Bernard Madoff, a judge ruled today.

But Manhattan federal Judge Jed Rakoff said the exact amount -- which Madoff bankruptcy trustee Irving Picard pegged at $83.3 million -- "will be determined in a subsequent order and may require further briefing and oral argument."

READ THE RULING HERE (PDF)

Rakoff also rejected efforts by the Mets' owners to block a March 19 trial over the $300 million-plus in principal that they got back in the two years before Madoff's massive con collapsed in December 2008.

AP

Saul Katz and Fred Wilpon

Picard claims Madoff's victims are entitled to that money because the Mets' owners were "willfully blind" to the Madoff's fraud when they handed over the cash.

In a four-page ruling, Rakoff said he "remains skeptical that the trustee can ultimately rebut the defendants' showing of good faith, let alone impute bad faith to all the defendants" for investing with Madoff.

"Conclusions are no substitute for facts, and too much of what the parties characterized as bombshells proved to be nothing but bombast," Rakoff wrote.

"Nevertheless, there remains a residue of disputed assertions from which a jury could infer either good faith or bad faith depending on which assertions are credited."

Lawyers for the Mets didn't immediately return a request for comment.

Today’s ruling is Picard’s first victory in the tangled case. The trustee initially sued the team’s owners for $1 billion, including profits and principal over the six-year period leading up to Madoff’s arrest.

Madoff is currently serving a 150-year prison sentence in North Carolina for orchestrating the multibillion-dollar Ponzi scheme.

Bernard Madoff, Mets, Manhattan federal Judge Jed Rakoff, the Mets, Irving Picard, Ponzi scheme, Madoff bankruptcy trustee

Nypost.com

Monday, March 5, 2012

EU Banks Put Onus on Units

LONDON—Some large European banks are using cheap loans from the European Central Bank to insulate themselves from new problems that could flare up in their businesses in financially ailing European countries.

Banks including Barclays PLC, Lloyds Banking Group PLC, Crédit Agricole SA and KBC Group NV have borrowed billions of euros under the ECB's three-year-loan program through their subsidiaries in Spain, Portugal, Greece and Ireland. The goal is to make those units more financially self-sufficient.

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EUBANKS

Bank officials and outside experts say the strategy is an effort to limit the parent companies' exposure to their far-flung subsidiaries in case the local economies deteriorate further. It also would make it easier to sever ties with the subsidiaries if, in an extreme case, one of the countries were to leave the euro zone, they say.

"It doesn't signal confidence," said Philippe Bodereau, a managing director with bond-fund manager Pimco. "It's also pretty cheap self-insurance [and] helps banks disentangle themselves" from their subsidiaries.

The ECB has been doling out the three-year loans in an effort to avert a catastrophic cash crunch as European banks, locked out of traditional funding markets, struggled to repay waves of maturing debts.

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Bloomberg News

As much as 11% of the €530 billion doled out last week could be used as a substitute for parent-company funding of local units.

The ECB offered two batches of the loans—first in December and again last week—with low 1% interest rates. Any bank based in the euro zone or with a locally incorporated business there could borrow virtually unlimited sums. In December, 523 banks borrowed €489 billion ($645.5 billion); last week, 800 banks borrowed €530 billion.

A key secondary goal of the ECB was for banks to use the funds to lend money to cash-strapped European governments, businesses and individuals. The question of what banks will do with the funds has emerged as a key uncertainty surrounding the lending program. The banks are allowed to deploy the money however they want. Their ECB borrowing strategy for the peripheral units is one indication of how the goals for the program might be difficult to attain.

A popular move among some banks has been for their subsidiaries in troubled European countries to borrow directly from the ECB. The parent companies could then stop plunking down as much of their own money to bankroll the units' daily operations.

That has at least two advantages. First, the 1% interest rate is well below what banks, especially those in countries like Greece, Ireland and Portugal, would have to pay to borrow from the markets.

More important, it allows the parent companies to distance themselves from their struggling subsidiaries, say banks and industry analysts. Some banks express worry it will be hard to extract money they plow into subsidiaries in the event of a euro-zone breakup or if the parent company decides to shut down its local business. Banks such as France's Crédit Agricole have already lent well over €10 billion to their peripheral-European arms to keep them afloat. Other banks are winding down subsidiaries and selling assets, and the ECB loans allow them to cheaply finance the businesses in the meantime.

Life in the Euro Zone

Hear six families—from Greece, Spain, France, Germany, Italy and the Netherlands—tell their stories.

View Interactive

Euro Zone Crisis Tracker

See economic, political and markets news from across Europe as governments and financial institutions deal with the continuing debt crisis.

View Interactive

Charting the Euro Zone Crisis

Timeline: Debt, Doubt and the Euro Zone

Key Players in the Euro Crisis: Bios, Quotes

More photos and interactive graphics

Some experts say the tactic of using ECB loans to finance local subsidiaries has taken hold partly in response to pressure from various countries' regulators that want banks to reduce their vulnerability to further financial commitments to peripheral-European subsidiaries. Regulators in some northern European countries are imposing tougher capital and liquidity requirements on banks that don't limit exposures to those units, according to UBS analyst Alastair Ryan.

Banking experts say it isn't clear what obligations banks would face to bail out their subsidiaries if they failed to pay back the ECB loans.

The ECB borrowing strategy "may or may not shift significant risk, but if the bank's regulator thinks it does then it will have a beneficial impact on the capital and funding needs of the parent," Mr. Ryan said. "This funding transfers tail risk to the euro-system…from the private sector." He estimated that as much as 11% of the €530 billion doled out last week could be used as a substitute for parent-company funding of local subsidiaries.

Barclays said Friday that its Spanish subsidiary, which has racked up billions of euros in losses and has needed to be financially supported by its British parent, borrowed €6.2 billion from the ECB. Its Portuguese unit took €2 billion. The parent didn't borrow.

Barclays said in a statement that the money "will provide funding stability to those businesses" while they're being restructured. A person familiar with the matter said the borrowings were part of a risk-management strategy aimed at limiting fallout from any further Spanish and Portuguese losses.

Belgium's KBC borrowed about €3 billion from the ECB last December through its Irish banking subsidiary. KBC borrowed another €5 billion last week but hasn't disclosed what parts of the international group took the money.

A KBC spokeswoman said the Irish unit borrowed last December in order "to be more self-sufficient…and to make it less-reliant on group funding."

Lloyds borrowed £11.4 billion ($18 billion) through one or more euro-zone subsidiaries. Chief Executive António Horta-Osório said last month that the bank planned to use the funds "to ring-fence noncore European assets" in Ireland, Spain and the Netherlands. The British parent company, which is trying to reinvent itself as a safer and slimmer bank, is shutting those businesses in coming years. Meantime, the ECB loans mean Lloyds won't have to tie up its own resources in those businesses.

Crédit Agricole, one of France's biggest banks, has used ECB loans to whittle down its financial exposure to its troubled Greek subsidiary, Emporiki. After extending more than €10 billion of loans to Emporiki, Crédit Agricole last year decided essentially to cut its losses and is instead trying to get central banks to lend money to Emporiki. Due to its foreign ownership, though, the Greek central bank has barred Emporiki from borrowing from an emergency-lending facility that other Greek banks have been tapping, according to a person familiar with the matter.

But Emporiki borrowed from the ECB. At the end of December, after the ECB's first batch of three-year loans, Emporiki had borrowed €1.8 billion from the ECB, according to Crédit Agricole. Crédit Agricole, meanwhile, reduced its loan exposure to Emporiki to €5.5 billion. It is unclear how much Emporiki borrowed from the ECB last week.

—Sara Schaefer Muñoz contributed to this article.

Write to David Enrich at david.enrich@wsj.com

A version of this article appeared Mar. 5, 2012, on page C1 in some U.S. editions of The Wall Street Journal, with the headline: EU Bank Units Tap Cheap Cash.
Online.wsj.com

Saturday, March 3, 2012

AIG sells Blackstone stake

American International Group, the insurer majority owned by the US government, sold a $500 million stake in Blackstone Group, according to a person familiar with the matter.

AIG exited the stake in a block trade before US markets opened, said the person, who declined to be identified because he isn’t permitted to speak about the transaction. AIG notified Blackstone in 2010 that it would convert 35.7 million Blackstone partnership units into common shares, which trade on the New York Stock Exchange.

AIG has sold non-US life insurers, a consumer lender, an asset manager and other businesses to help repay a 2008 government rescue that swelled to $182.3 billion.

Christine Anderson, a spokeswoman for Blackstone, declined to comment on the deal, as did an AIG spokesperson.

.

Blackstone Group, Blackstone, American International Group online, block trade

Nypost.com

Friday, March 2, 2012

Violent Day in Syria as Aid Nears

BEIRUT—Syrian activists accused regime forces of carrying out execution-style killings and burning homes Friday as part of a scorched-earth campaign in a restive neighborhood in the city of Homs, while the Red Cross headed to the area following a bloody, monthlong siege to dislodge rebel forces.

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Associated Press

A convoy of Lebanese Red Cross ambulances escorted by Lebanese police vehicles carry two injured journalists who were trapped in Baba Amr.

Syria has faced mounting international criticism over its bloody crackdown on the uprising, which started with peaceful protests but has become increasingly militarized. The U.N. has estimated that more than 7,500 people have been killed since the uprising began nearly a year ago. Activists put the death toll at over 8,000.

France said Friday it is closing its embassy in Syria, a day after two French journalists escaped to Lebanon after being trapped for days in the central city of Homs. The U.S. and Britain already have closed their embassies in Syria.

Syrian forces retook control of the district, called Baba Amr, on Thursday, and there were growing fears of revenge attacks after the rebels withdrew. The Red Cross reached Homs, but had yet to enter Baba Amr.

Regional Upheaval

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Bassel Fouad, a Syrian activist who fled to Lebanon from Baba Amr two days ago, said a colleague there told him Friday that Syrian troops and pro-government gunmen known as shabiha were conducting house-to-house raids.

"The situation is worse than terrible inside Baba Amr," Mr. Fouad said. "Shabiha are entering homes and setting them on fire."

His colleague said the gunmen lined 10 men up early Friday and shot them dead in front of a government cooperative that sells subsidized food. He said Syrian forces were detaining anyone over the age of 14 in the three-story building.

"They begin at the start of a street and enter and search house after house," he said. "Then they start with another street."

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights also said it had received reports of 10 people slain in front of a co-op and called on the Red Cross team heading to Homs to investigate claims by residents the building is being used a prison. Another group, the Local Coordination Committees, said 14 were killed.

The claims could not be independently verified. Information from inside Baba Amr has been difficult to obtain in recent days. Activists elsewhere in the city said those in Baba Amr stopped using satellite connections for fear the government could use them to target strikes. Others accuse the government of scrambling signals.

The central city of Homs, Syria's third largest, has emerged as a key battleground in the uprising against President Bashar al-Assad that began in March 2011. Activists said hundreds were killed during the nearly monthlong siege, and many lived for days with little food and no electricity or running water.

The U.N. said it was alarmed by the reports of execution-style killings after the Syrian army seized Baba Amr from rebel forces in a major blow to the opposition.

In Geneva, a spokesman for the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights said the agency had received unconfirmed reports of "a particularly grisly set of summary executions" involving 17 people in Baba Amr after government forces entered.

Rupert Colville didn't provide details but said his office was seeking to confirm the reports and called on both government and rebel forces to refrain from all forms of reprisal.

The Red Cross, meanwhile, sent a convoy of aid trucks to Homs along a snow-covered route from the capital Damascus early Friday after getting permission from the government.

Khalid Arqsouseh, a spokesman for the Syrian Red Crescent in Homs, said the seven 15-ton trucks were carrying food, milk powder, medical supplies and blankets.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy called the events in Syria a "scandal," adding that the European Council "condemned in the harshest terms what is happening in Syria."

Ambassador Eric Chevallier had only recently returned to Damascus after being recalled to Paris for consultations. He was sent back to help try to get two stranded French reporters out of Syria.

Those reporters flew out of Lebanon on a medically equipped plane Friday after being smuggled out of Syria the night before. One of them, Edith Bouvier, was wounded last week in a rocket attack in Baba Amr that also wounded British photographer Paul Conroy and killed American reporter Marie Colvin and French photographer Remi Ochlik. Another French reporter, William Daniels, was traveling with Ms. Bouvier.

Mr. Conroy and Spanish reporter Javier Espinosa also were smuggled out of Syria this week.

The West has stepped up its criticism of Mr. Assad's regime amid mounting reports of atrocities at the hands of security forces. The U.S. has called for Assad to step down and Hillary Clinton said he could be considered a war criminal.

The Observatory said 10 people were killed in the town of Rastan near Homs when a mortar landed near marchers. The LCC said 13 were killed the same event, among 37 reported dead nationwide.

Protesters dubbed Friday the day of "Arming the Free Syrian Army"—reflecting a widening perception that only military action can stop the crackdown on dissent and hasten Mr. Assad's downfall.

Red Cross, Red Cross, Baba Amr, Homs, The Red Cross, Syria, Syria, Lebanese Red Cross ambulances, Baba, government, rebel forces, Activists, Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, Lebanon

Online.wsj.com

Thursday, March 1, 2012

Sports Shorts

NFL: Steelers to cut Ward

The Steelers said they have informed Hines Ward, who holds franchise records for receptions, receiving yards, receiving touchdowns and helped the team win two Super Bowls, he will be released sometime in the next two weeks.

Former Colts vice chairman Bill Polian has joined ESPN as an analyst.

MLB: Dykstra to withdraw plea

Former Mets outfielder Lenny Dykstra is seeking to withdraw his no-contest plea in Los Angeles on charges of auto theft and providing a false financial statement, officials said.

Dykstra is scheduled to be sentenced Monday, facing up to four years in prison as part of a plea deal.

Marlins slugger Mike Stanton said yesterday he prefers to be called by his given first name, Giancarlo.

Hoops: Fordham falls to R.I.

Anthony Malhoit scored a career-high 21 points leading Rhode Island to a 78-58 win over visiting Fordham.

Branden Frazier had 20 points to lead Fordham (10-18, 3-12) and Devon McMillan added 10. Fordham has lost seven of its last eight contests.

JaQuon Parker scored a career-high 28 points to lead Cincinnati to a 72-61 victory over No. 8 Marquette.

J awanza Poland scored 16 points and South Florida ruined No. 19 Louisville’s senior night with a 58-51 victory.

Khalif Wyatt scored 26 points to help No. 23 Temple beat visiting UMass 90-88 in overtime to clinch the A-10 tournament’s top seed.

soccer: Reyna, Meola in Hall

Former U.S. national team captain Claudio Reyna and goalkeeper Tony Meola have been elected to the U.S. National Soccer Hall of Fame.

Etc.: Kobe cleared to play

Kobe Bryant was cleared to play for the Lakers last night against Minnesota after breaking his nose and getting a concussion in the All-Star Game.

Bryant was declared symptom free.

Jimmie Johnson’s crew chief Chad Knaus was fined $100,000 and suspended six races by NASCAR while Johnson was docked 25 points for failing an inspection Feb. 17 at Daytona International Speedway.

Alex Morgan scored two goals, as the United States opened defense of its Algarve Cup title with a 5-0 win over Denmark in Portugal.

Mets outfielder Lenny Dykstra, Steelers, Hines Ward, Fordham, Bill Polian, WardThe Steelers, Claudio Reyna, Mike Stanton, Dykstra, Tony Meola, Devon McMillan, ESPN

Nypost.com