My Top Ten Lists

Favorite Athletes
1- Mark Messier---The Captain led the Rangers to their first Stanley Cup in 54 years. Also, first player to be named an NHL All-Star at two positions, center and left wing.
2- Mike Richter-- Incredibly acrobatic goaltender backstopped that storied Rangers' championship team. Also, amazing performance to lead United States over Canada in 1996 World Cup.
3- Bernard King-- Former New York Knick would score fifty and make it look easy.
4- Lawrence Taylor--New York Giants' linebacker changed the way his position was played and how the offense played against him.
5- Mario Lemieux--Battled cancer and back problems to be second only to Wayne Gretzky.
6- Walter Payton-- "Sweetness" was the late running back's knickname and anyone who is tough enough to gain hard yards playing for Chicago is something special.
7- Dave Winfield--Dynamic outfielder for the New York Yankees who always played hard and did so with a smile.
8- Magic Johnson--"Showtime" was the only player I've seen who could play all five positions and play them well.
9- Brett Favre-- Only player to be named NFL MVP three years in a row 1995-1997.
10- Pavel Bure-- I have never seen a hockey player that fast. I'll never forget him buzzing around Madison Square Garden while playing for Vancouver against the Rangers in the Stanley Cup Finals. If it weren't for the brilliance of Mike Richter Vancouver would have routed the Blueshirts.

Athletes I Loved to Hate
1- Reggie Miller-- Former Indiana Pace gave the Knicks fits with his clutch shots.
2- Claude Lemieux-- One of the dirtiest players ever to play in the NHL.
3- Ulf Samuelsson -- Same as above.
4- Eric Lindros -- Incredibly overhyped athlete that got the calls but at times could be incredibly dominant. Saved his best for the Rangers.
5- David Ortiz --What can you say about this member of the Red Sox. Just whips the Yankees.
6- Michael Irvin --World class athlete and a world class jerk.
7- Donovan McNabb --Class act but another guy who saves his best for the NY Giants.
8- Danny Ainge -- Hard working member of the Boston Celtics.
9- Dennis Rodman -- Phenomenol rebounder and one of the weirdest guys around.
10- Randy Johnson -- Even though he is a Yankee it is hard to warm up to this once dominant pitcher.

Athletes I Have the Utmost Respect For
1- Scott Stevens -- I will never forget in '95 after one crushing hit on Slava Kozlov he looks at the heavily favored Detroit Red Wing bench and says to anyone willing to look him in the eye: You're next!!
2- Tiger Woods -- Physically and mentally one of the most well-prepared athletes anywhere.
3- Jerry Bailey -- Overcame physical limitations and demons to be a hall of fame jockey.
4- Martin Brodeur -- Unflappable.
5- Steve Yzerman -- Very classy Detroit Red Wings' Captain.
6- Tim Duncan -- One of the few class acts in the NBA.
7- Charles Oakley -- Night in and night out always give his all for the Knicks.
8- Phil Simms -- Consistent NY Giant quarterback was always a professional.
9- Roger Federer -- Wow! Just awesome.
10- Kevin Garnett -- The other class act in the NBA.

Best Athletes in my Lifetime
1- Wayne Gretzky -- Charisma that the NHL has never seen before or since.
2- Michael Jordan -- Not enough adjectives to describe the man who could fly through the air.
3- Mark Messier -- Leader, champion, legend.
4- Joe Montana -- Cool under pressure.
5- Mario Lemieux --Graceful and overcame many obstacles.
6- Tiger Woods -- Probably will be recognized as best ever when his career is done.
7- Magic Johnson --Most versatile athlete in any sport.
8- Walter Payton -- Should have won more than once.
9- Emmitt Smith -- Cornerstone of a dynasty.
10- Mariano Rivera -- Definitely the best closer in history.

Most Disappointing Athletes
1- Mike Tyson -- Got involved with the wrong people who helped to ruin his life.
2- Doc Gooden and Darryl Strawberry -- Drugs shortchanged these guys of so much.
3- Alexei Kovalev -- Enigma.
4- Petr Nedved -- Enigma Part II
5- Hideki Irabu -- So much hype so little was delivered.
6- Tyrone Wheatley -- Never made it with the Giants but was better with Oakland.
7- Anna Kournikova -- Great looks never translated into big wins.
8- Dave Brown -- Former Giant QB was given plenty of chances to shine.
9- Brien Taylor -- Former Yankees' pitching prospect hurt his shoulder in a fight leaving New Yorkers wondering what could have been.
10- Friedrich Weiss -- Horrible Knick draft pick never made it across the Atlantic.

Favorite News/Sports Shows
1- Curtis and Kuby (770 WABC)
2- Mike and the Mad Dog (660 WFAN)
3- The O'Reilly Factor (710 WOR/FOX News)
4- Paul Harvey News (770 WABC)
5- Meet The Press (NBC)
6- Catherine Crier Live (Court TV)
7- The Sean Hannity Show (770 WABC)
8- Coast to Coast AM with George Noory (770 WABC)
9- The Brian Lehrer Show (National Public Radio)
10- The Gary Null Show (National Public Radio)

Favorite Actors
1- Al Pacino
2- Denzell Washington
3- Dennis Franz
4- Russell Crowe
5- Michael Douglas
6- Jimmy Smits
7- Morgan Freeman
8- Donald Sutherland
9- Matt Damon
10-David Caruso

Favorite Books (non-fiction)
1- Seabiscuit by Laura Hillenbrand
2- A Drinking Life: A Memoir by Pete Hamill
3- Blue Blood by Edward Conlon
4- The Westies by T.J. English
5- From Beirut to Jerusalem by Thomas L. Friedman
6- Crime Fighter: Putting the Bad Guys Out of Business by Jack Maple
7- My Life in the NYPD:Jimmy the Wags By James J. Wagner
8- Charlie Wilson's War by George Crile
9- Serpico by Peter Maas
10-Common Sense by Thomas Paine

Favorite Books (fiction)
1- The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
2- A Farewell to Arms by Ernest Hemingway
3- Dracula by Bram Stoker
4- The Vampire Lestat by Anne Rice
5- Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
6- Interview with the Vampire by Anne Rice
7- Jaws by Peter Benchley
8- A Skull in Connemara by Martin McDonagh
9- The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton
10- Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

Favorite Movies
1- Black Hawk Down
2- The Godfather
3- Scarface
4- L.A. Confidential
5- Serpico
6- Wall Street
7- Prince of the City
8- Training Day
9- Fletch
10- Miracle

Favorite Songs
1- Substitute by The Who
2- Suspicious Minds by Elvis Presley
3- Goodbye Yellow Brick Road by Elton John
4- Walk this Way by Aerosmith/Run DMC
5- Let's Get Pretentious by Pete Townshend
6- Hypnotize by the Notorious B.I.G.
7- Makin' Some Noise by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
8- Crazy by Aerosmith
9- Baba O'Riley by The Who
10- Hard Knock Life by Jay Z