SPORT IN SHORT

BETTER THAN YOUR AVERAGE JOE?

DON’T know about you but I’m sick and tired of hearing Joe Girardi and his players saying the New York Yankees are “better than we’ve shown so far.” No, Joe, you’re not. Derek Jeter is much closer to the mark when he describes the Yanks as “consistently inconsistent.” You are what you are, and at 33-33, the record says the Yankees are distinctly average.

BIG FROWN

SO trainer Rick Dutrow Jr. is blaming Big Brown’s Belmont failure on a bad ride by jockey Kent Desormeaux. Is he on drugs (Dutrow, not the horse, that is)? Big Brown wouldn’t have won the Triple Crown with the Lone Ranger in the saddle.

SHUT IT SCHILLING

WE already know LeBron James is a closet Yankees fan. Now, it seems, Kobe Bryant is rooting for the Bronx Bombers too. Outspoken Boston Rex Sox pitcher Curt Schilling criticized Kobe for “bitching at his team-mates” during the NBA Finals between his Los Angeles Lakers and the Boston Celtics. Asked for his response, Kobe declared: “Go Yankees!”

FOOL ON THE HILL

VIAGRA, apparently, doesn’t just add pep to your sex life. It can enhance your sporting performance too. Sadly, it didn’t work for one Yankees pitcher on the mound last season, although it did seem to spice up his social life. Either way, the Yanks won’t be erecting a statue to him now.

GIANTS NOT SO JOLLY

WHAT price the New York Giants to repeat as Super Bowl champions next season? Michael Strahan has retired, Plaxico Burress is holding out for a new contract and Jeremy Shockey still wants to be traded. The feelgood factor lasted for little more than four months.