Yankees’ Pettitte might face Mets in exhibition finale

TAMPA -- Andy Pettitte threw a shortened bullpen session yesterday and was awaiting word about what is next in his comeback program.

“I know he has a simulated game coming up in the next few days,’’ Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. “I am not sure he is going to [Miami] with us. I think he is going to stay back [at George M. Steinbrenner Field].’’

The Yankees open a two-game series with the Marlins on Sunday night.

Pettitte said it’s not necessary to pitch in a big-league exhibition game before spring training is done, but there is a chance the 39-year-old left-hander could face the Mets on Wednesday in the finale.

COMEBACK TRAIL: Andy Pettitte may face the Mets in the Yankees’ exhibition finale on Wednesday, but said he does not feel he has to pitch in a spring-training game.

“We will see. We have to see how he feels at the time,’’ Girardi said of Pettitte, who breezed through a batting practice session Tuesday.

Pettitte has impressed everybody thus far.

“In BP the other day I thought he located his pitches well,” Girardi said. “I have been happy with what I have seen.’’

The general date for Pettitte’s return to the big leagues after sitting out the 2011 season has been May 1, but Girardi isn’t committing to that more than a month in advance.

“You have to see after his starts, see how his body responds,’’ Girardi said. “I expect it will be sometime in May, but I can’t tell you exactly when.’’

***

Nick Swisher went 2-for-5 in minor league games Thursday. If his groin doesn’t act up, Girardi has options for his switch-hitting right fielder.

”We will see how he feels [Friday],” said Girardi, who could play Swisher in a big-league game or a minor-league game. “We could put him in the outfield but if we have to wait a day we will,’’

Because a player only can be back-dated to March 26 for DL purposes, it might be wiser for the Yankees to play Swisher in a minor-league game today because that doesn’t count toward the backdating process because admission isn’t charged.

***

Curtis Granderson was back in the lineup Thursday night after missing the previous two with right elbow soreness. Granderson, who was the DH against the Orioles, went 1-for-4 in a 4-3 loss at GMS Field.

***

Raul Ibanez hit his second homer and is seeing signs of coming out of a spring-long slump in time for Opening Day.

“I have been feeling better the last four or five days,’’ the DH against right-handers said. “I am trying to build momentum. [My timing] is getting better, and I am trying to stay on top of it.’’

***

Girardi said right-handers D.J. Mitchell, David Phelps and Adam Warren are in the mix for a possible long reliever spot.

Mitchell was scheduled to start against the Orioles but was replaced by Phelps. The plan was for Mitchell to work Thursday night in relief and again Saturday, but that was scratched after the game.

The Yankees want Mitchell built up to 90 pitches for either a long relief role in the big leagues or at Triple-A.

Girardi is going to carry a dozen hurlers and is undecided if a long reliever would be in addition to a second lefty in the pen.

“Either one,’’ Girardi said. “Because there is no guarantee the sixth starter goes to the bullpen.

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What the puck??

NBC Sports Group boss Mark Lazarus is failing to score with his ambitious plan to overhaul NBC Sports Network.

In the first three months of the year, ratings plunged 22 percent — the biggest drop in eight years — after Lazarus announced the cable channel was jettisoning the Versus moniker and changing its name to NBC Sports Network.

According to Nielsen, NBCSN averaged 64,000 total daily viewers in the three months ended March 25, down from 82,000 viewers in the same period a year ago.

That means it would be the least-watched since the second quarter of 2004, when OLN averaged just 51,000 viewers.

In fact, Versus put up better ratings in 2004, when it was still known as the Outdoor Life Network and focused on hunting and fishing shows. Under Comcast’s ownership, the network morphed into Versus in 2006. The latest rebrand on Jan. 2, which follows Comcast’s takeover of NBCUniversal, gave it the NBC name along with the Peacock logo.

The overhaul was more than just a name and new logo, however. The goal was to catapult the network, which has been anchored by National Hockey League games, into a different league by pursuing more traditional sports programming, ranging from college football to car racing.

NBCSN has replaced 40 percent of its programming and — despite the ratings fall-off — boasts “higher quality” sports content as well as exclusive NHL coverage, a source close to the network said.

The network should benefit from the NHL playoffs in the second quarter, as well as from the Olympic Games in the summer, the source said, adding that revenue is also up. An NBCSN spokesman declined to comment.

In the meantime, the network is struggling to convert viewers who tuned in to the hunting and fishing shows that aired on Versus.

An even bigger issue appears to be the loss of Mixed Martial Arts, which was acquired by News Corp.’s Fox. (News Corp. also owns The Post.)

NBC Sports Network is the focus of much attention at Comcast’s NBCUniversal as CEO Steve Burke is making sports programming a pillar of his overhaul of the entire media outfit.

The company won the rights to the Olympic Games through 2020, after paying some $4.4 billion, and also added Major League Soccer, mostly to boost NBCSN. It is also building a new studio in Stamford, Conn., where all the NBC Sports staff will eventually be located.

Even a slick marketing campaign and cross promotion across NBCU’s sister networks has done little to lift the sports channel.

“It is very disappointing, but I wouldn’t overreact,” said Frank Vuono, partner at 16 W Marketing. “The NBC Sports audience has to find this channel and know it’s around. It’s a different viewer.”

Other ratings experts suggest NBCSN’s ratings woes were compounded by the NBA lockout in the fall, which created pent-up interest in the first quarter for basketball games on rival networks.

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Facebook targeting May IPO

Facebook Inc. is preparing its initial public offering for May, according to people familiar with the matter, in what is shaping up to be the largest-ever US internet offering.

The Menlo Park, Calif., social network halted trading of its shares on the secondary market this week, as it sets about nailing down its shareholder count, according to a person familiar with the matter.

Facebook filed for an IPO in early February, in an offering that could raise as much as $10 billion and value the eight-year-old company at $100 billion. Facebook made $1 billion in 2011 on $3.71 billion in revenue. It has 845 million users globally.

Facebook is still in discussions with the Securities and Exchange Commission over its IPO and expects to file at least one more amendment to its S1 registration papers, according to one person. The company last filed an amended S1 on Tuesday.

It's unclear which week in May Facebook is aiming to go public, cautioned the person, and the timing may still change. The timing depends in large part on the SEC and isn't in Facebook's control, this person added.

Facebook has seen demand grow for its shares on the secondary market since the company filed to go public, boosting its valuation to about $105 billion in some trades.

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Red Bulls' Agudelo has knee surgery

Red Bulls striker Juan Agudelo had surgery yesterday to repair a torn medial meniscus in his left knee. The procedure will be performed by Dr. Riley Williams at the Hospital for Special Surgery, with Agudelo expected to miss up to six weeks.

Agudelo was hurt during the U.S. Under-23 National Team’s 6-0 rout of Cuba last Thursday in Olympic qualifying. The 19-year-old forward made one start this year for the Red Bulls – the 2-1 loss at FC Dallas on March 11 – and his injury leaves just two healthy experienced strikers on the roster.

Luke Rodgers is still in the UK, with Homeland Security yet to approve his appeal for a P-1 visa. Thierry Henry and newcomer Kenny Rodgers each had a brace in Sunday’s home-opening 4-1 rout of Colorado, the former adding an assist and being named MLS Player of the Week.

The Red Bulls host expansion Montreal Saturday (4 p.m., MSG).

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CHSAA Staten Island softball preview

The formula for success doesn’t change at St. John Villa.

The Bears stunned favorite St. Joseph by the Sea in the CHSAA Archdiocesan semifinals before falling to Moore Catholic in the championship game. Star pitcher and leadoff hitter Brittany Smith graduated and is now at CSI, but a large contingent from that squad returns.

“This group has been through it already so I don’t think that is going to be a problem,” Villa coach John Curatolo said of not being intimidated by Sea and Moore. “I think we are going to just come to every game to compete. We are built around what we are always built around. We are built around defense and speed.”

The Bears' strength will be up the middle starting with leadoff hitter and second baseman Nicole Burt and fellow junior Arianna Trembone at short. Senior Sam McCauley is back in center field for the fourth straight year. Mary Curatolo, the coach’s daughter, will see time in left and be the backup pitcher. Sam Long and Serena Zinsley are expected to split time in right. Junior Sevdiana Liharevic takes over for Smith in the circle

“That’s our strong point,” Curatolo said of Burt and Trembone. “They are both very good up the middle and if you hit it decently hard on the ground they can turn it.”

The philosophy of bunting and slapping won’t change for Villa, but John Curatolo has felt some of his hitters have matured enough to let them swing away when the situation is right. His daughter will bat righty as much as she tries to slap from the left side. John Curatolo has been impressed with the bat of Laura Innocente, but has yet to find her a set position in the field. He said he will need to find a spot for the lefty Zinsley.

“As they get older they get stronger with the slapping and the bunting and now they can actually hit the ball,” thecoach said. “Now you are not just putting the ball in play anymore. You are actually swinging.”

St. Joseph Hill will be extremely young, talented and building toward the future. Coach Joe Wuensch will be starting a freshman at first base, catcher, in the circle and the outfield. The key will be Julia Piscopo, a finesse pitcher, taking over for the graduated Victoria Procopio.

“She’s a very solid pitcher, who has even greater potential,” Wuensch said. “I expect her to keep us in all the games.”

Lefty top-of-the-order hitter Amanda Laudani will be behind the plate and Meghan Sheridan at first base. Alyssa Orosz, who can add speed to the one and two spots in the order, will see time in right field and center. She will be battling sophomore Tatiana Perone and Danielle Barchitta, who has some pop in her bat, for the starting job in those spots.

“This is a very young team, untested and it’s wait and see right now,” Wuensch said.

The Hilltoppers' strength will be up the left side on defense with senior Jackie Solomon returning at shortstop and Megan Sullivan back at third. Solomon ended last season red hot with the bat and Wuensch is hoping the success carries over into this season.

Notre Dame Academy and longtime coach Tony Curatolo will hope the sophomore Amanda Guarino will build off the success she had last season and be a rock in the circle this year. Her freshman sister Alex is expected to be her back up.

“She’s throwing strikes,” Curatolo said of Amanda. “She doesn’t walk as many anymore”

Senior shortstop Alanna Bergstrom is one of the league’s most underrated players. She is a slick fielder, who will be an anchor in the middle of the order with junior Gabby Piscopo, who will see time at first base. Tony Curatolo believes Bergstrom is right there with the other top shortstops in the league. St. Peter’s transfer Jillian Cancel will be in center field and add lineup depth with fellow former Eagle Christina Giampiola. Freshman Leanne Forsyth will be at third and classmate Jackie Castore is behind the plate and a top-of-order hitter.

“I think this year we are going to be more competitive,” Curatolo said.

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UNC holds off Ohio's upset bid

ST. LOUIS — North Carolina’s NCAA tournament title hopes weren’t broken along with star point guard Kendall Marshall’s wrist — barely. The top-seeded Tar Heels were ripe for an upset, but Ohio just wasn’t quite good enough to pick them off.

North Carolina built a huge lead, squandered it as Ohio made the Tar Heels look vulnerable, then held on for a 73-65 overtime win in a Midwest Regional semifinal at the Edward Jones Dome.

Though the Tar Heels (32-5) weren’t dominant, or even crisp, they were big and experienced, and that was enough to beat the Bobcats (29-8) and earn a berth in tomorrow’s Midwest final against Kansas.

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UP IN THE AIR: North Carolina’s John Henson battles for position with Reggie Keely (30) and Walter Offutt of Ohio during the Tar Heels’ 73-65 overtime win last night.

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“I was just begging and pleading and trying to work my rear end off to get us [to play],’’ North Carolina coach Roy Williams said. “My head was killing me. I got a little dizzy a couple times, but I said if I’m going to die let’s at least die with a win. You feel like a preacher, because I was just begging and pleading and pushing and trying to get them to understand “This is 5 minutes, let’s play better.” I think we did.’’

Williams’ prayers were answered in the form of a mammoth 20-point, 22-rebound, four-block night from Tyler Zeller, and a plus-33 margin on the boards. Both rebounding numbers were the best in the Tar Heels’ long NCAA history. That dominance let them overcome a season-high 24 turnovers and a sputtering offense.

“We feel like we got away with one,” said Zeller, who joined St. John’s George Johnson, Hakeem Olajuwon, Joe Smith and Tim Duncan as the only 20-20 players in the Big Dance in the last 35 years. “Ohio played the better game. They hit a lot of shots. We just were able to make plays at the end ... to pull it out.’’

North Carolina built a 15-point lead as Ohio missed 17 of its first 20 shots, but they squandered that advantage and got taken to overtime. In the extra period, however, Reggie Bullock’s left-corner 3-pointer and Harrison Barnes’ jumper give the Tar Heels a 68-63 lead they never surrendered.

“When I caught the ball, I heard my whole bench ... say ‘Shoot.’ I was just thinking ‘It’s my time to perform,’ ’’ said Bullock, who had 17 points, 10 rebounds and five assists to pick up the slack for the absent Marshall and the ineffective Barnes.

Without Marshall, who broke his right wrist on Sunday, and was replaced by little-used freshman Stilman White (six assists, no turnovers), Barnes struggled to 12 points on horrid 3-of-16 shooting. But he scored five points in overtime, while the Bobcats missed all six of their shots in OT — and one that could have prevented it.

Walter Offutt, who scored a game-high 26 points for Ohio, drove for a tying basket with 25 seconds left in regulation and was fouled. But he missed the potential go-ahead foul shot and the Bobcats settled for OT, where they imploded behind the reckless shooting of D.J. Cooper (3-for-20).

“One free throw away,” Offut said. “As a leader on this team, I take responsibility that I’ve got to hit that free throw. It just feels terrible to kind of let my team down in that sort of way.’’

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Yankees’ rotation candidates sweat out final decision

FORT MYERS, Fla. — Opening Day is two weeks from today and the back end of the Yankees’ rotation is, if anything, even more uncertain than it was at the beginning of spring training.

“They have to figure something out,” right-hander Freddy Garcia said. “I don’t know how it’s going to end up.”

And though general manager Brian Cashman didn’t provide any clues as to who would follow CC Sabathia and Hiroki Kuroda, he did say the competition wouldn’t go on forever.

“I don’t play it out,” Cashman said of what he expected the rotation to look like. “I just watch what’s going on and we’ll make a decision here shortly, I think. Hopefully they all stay healthy.”

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MANAGING TO BE FRIENDLY: Former Red Sox manager Terry Francona (left), now an ESPN announcer, shakes hands with Boston’s new manager, Bobby Valentine, as ESPN’s Orel Hershiser looks on yesterday in the dugout before the Yankees and Red Sox faced off in a spring-training game.

Cashman later defined “shortly” as before Opening Day, but it would make sense for the Yankees to line their starters up for the season.

Although Cashman wasn’t prepared to make any predictions, he said he has liked what he has seen from Phil Hughes as he tries to bounce back after an ugly 2011.

“If Phil Hughes is healthy, I know the type of pitcher he is,” Cashman said of Hughes, who has a 2.02 ERA this spring. “He’s still one of the best young guns, for me, in the game. He won 18 games the year before last.”

Cashman is willing to look past last year’s disappointment because Hughes’ arm wasn’t right.

“As long as he’s healthy, there’s no reason to believe that out of the last three years, those two years before last year are what we’ve really got,” Cashman said.

Questions remain about everyone vying for those three spots, including Andy Pettitte.

“I feel great,” Pettitte said in Tampa. “I just have the regular soreness in my lower half that you would have.”

Neither Pettitte nor manager Joe Girardi would rule out the possibility of the lefty pitching a spring training game, but they both stressed he was being cautious.

“As you get older, you grow to realize that this is a process,” said Pettitte, who has rushed rehabs in the past. “There’s still a little bit of that in me. I don’t know what’s gonna happen. It feels normal.”

Pettitte said he hadn’t detected any uneasiness among any of the other pitchers he might bump from the rotation.

“I would tell you if there was,” Pettitte said. “I think all these guys know I’m here to help us win.”

That includes Garcia, who appeared unhappy after Pettitte’s signing, since he signed as a free agent with the expectation of starting. Yesterday, Garcia insisted it wasn’t a problem.

“I’ve always liked Andy,” said Garcia, who is scheduled to start tomorrow after bruising his right hand last week. “He’s been good for a long time and can definitely help the team. But something has to happen.”

Garcia said he still sees a future for himself in pinstripes.

“Yeah, why not?” said Garcia, adding no trade talk has begun. “I signed here because this is where I want to pitch. Now, it’s different with so many guys, but I guess everyone has to wait for next week. I’m hoping to stay here.”

Pettitte said he knows Garcia is fine with his presence in camp.

“I was in the weight room that first day and Freddy came by and we talked,” Pettitte said. “We’re gonna need all the pitching we can get.”

Soon enough, the Yankees will know who will provide it.

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Pettitte got crafty with Yankees comeback plans

Kevin Kernan
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TAMPA — A scout pulled me aside last night at Steinbrenner Field and offered this comment on Andy Pettitte.

“There’s one reason why Andy came back,’’ the scout said. “He’s better than most of the lefties out there today.’’

Pettitte breezed through his first bullpen session yesterday in Day 1 of his Yankees Comeback.

“I feel like I never left,’’ Pettitte said.

Pettitte said he is shooting for a May 1 return to the majors. He could be back sooner than anyone expects. He will help in many ways.

“He’s an awesome guy,’’ said Michael Pineda, who struck out five of the last six batters he faced last night as the Yankees crushed the Pirates, 10-3. “I’m going to learn from him.’’

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Andy Pettitte

There is much to learn. Pettitte will be successful because it all goes back to the elbow injury he suffered with the Astros in 2004. He says that is how he evolved into the pitcher he is today, which works to his advantage in this comeback for the ages. When Pettitte developed a cutter early in the career he lost his feel for the changeup.

“I was able to be successful because I was on great teams, but I really struggled trying to command both sides of the plate,’’ Pettitte explained. “When I had my elbow surgery in Houston and my velocity just came way down, I felt like that was like one of the greatest things that ever happened to me as far just learning how to pitch again.

“I came back early from the flexor tendon surgery and my velocity was way down and I had to learn how to throw my changeup again and control the outside corner. The evolution of that and me being able to figure it all out again and to come back to the Yankees the last four years that I was here [2007-10], just being able to control both sides of the plate, I wouldn’t be able to do this, especially not in this division, if I wasn’t able to throw the ball to both sides of the plate. That’s been the key for me. That’s the key for anybody that’s just not a true power pitcher. That’s the only reason I can do this.’’

At this stage of the game for Pettitte, it is about command. It’s not about velocity, which has become the key word when evaluating pitchers.

Velocity is the least of Pettitte’s worries. As long as he can stay healthy, he will have success. The challenge of coming back is a mental challenge, not a physical one. Pettitte knows he will be successful if he is healthy. General manager Brian Cashman agrees.

“You can’t find lefty pitching of his stature,’’ Cashman told me. “It was one of those things: How do you say no?’’

Pettitte, who will turn 40 on June 15, had his Jim Morris moment from the movie “The Rookie’’ while throwing at home. He just knew his stuff was back in Texas.

When he visited the Yankees as a spring training instructor, Pettitte was back physically and mentally.

“When I came the first day of spring training this year, I knew that I needed to let Cash know that I was interested in pitching,’’ Pettitte said. “The day I got here I told [him] that. It wasn’t like I got here because I had a bug to play because I was around the guys.’’

Pettitte knew he could get hitters out in the AL East. He still has the pitching goods.

“I am a little surprised, but I am not shocked,’’ Pettitte said of how good he felt during his bullpen session of 50 pitches. “When this decision was made to say I could fully do this, this is where I expected to get to.’’

At one point during the session, coach Mike Harkey, a former major league pitcher, told Pettitte, “Don’t peak too early.’’

Peaking is what Andy Pettitte knows.

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Peyton, Broncos agree to five-year, $96 million deal

DENVER — The big deal is done. Peyton Manning is a Denver Bronco.

A person familiar with negotiations says that Manning and the Broncos completed his five-year contract worth about $96 million on Tuesday morning.

The person spoke on condition of anonymity because Manning is to be introduced at a news conference at Broncos headquarters later.

PHOTOS: PEYTON MANNING

The agreement ends a wild chase for perhaps the most valued free agent in the history of the NFL, a quarterback who has won an unprecedented four league MVP awards and took the Indianapolis Colts to a Super Bowl victory in 2007.

It also represents a huge coup for Broncos executive and Hall of Fame QB John Elway, and could spell the end of the Denver career of Tim Tebow, last year's quarterbacking sensation.

Turns out Tebowmania may have just been a fad in the Mile High City.

ESPN and the NFL Network first reported on the completion of the Manning deal.

Manning called Elway on Monday and told him that he had chosen Denver over the Tennessee Titans and San Francisco 49ers, his other final picks. The Broncos and Manning's agent then hashed out the contract details.

"I congratulate Peyton as he heads to a tremendous organization in the Denver Broncos. We wish him nothing but the best as he continues his Hall of Fame career," Colts owner Jim Irsay said Tuesday.

With the 35-year-old Manning recovering from a string of neck surgeries, Irsay released him two weeks ago rather than pay a $28 million bonus.

But plenty of teams still believed Manning has the ability to be the kind of leader who guided Indy to 12 wins a season from 2001-10.

Elway and company beat them all out. The man who led the Broncos to two Super Bowl titles in the late 1990s, and now serves as Denver's vice president of football operations, Elway never sounded all that convinced Tebow was the answer at the league's most important position. He could now trade the hugely popular quarterback, who energized the Broncos in a run to the playoffs last season but also was plagued by erratic play.

If so, expect the Broncos and Denver to be more upbeat about getting Manning than downcast over potentially losing Tebow.

"There's a lot to be excited about," Broncos defensive end Robert Ayers said Monday when asked about Manning. "Just being on his team is going to make you want to play better."

Although no starting QB has ever earned a Super Bowl ring for two different teams, every day at the Broncos' headquarters, Manning will at least see the two Lombardi Trophies in the lobby that Elway won — when he was 37 and 38.

Several Broncos predicted the free agency floodgates will swing wide open once Manning officially joins the team.

"I think we'll sign some guys, probably a few guys, like Dallas Clark, Jeff Saturday, guys waiting to see what Peyton was going to do," Ayers said. "Defensive guys want to play with a lead, and I'm pretty sure guys are going to assume Peyton will put up points in this offense, we have some weapons."

With Manning joining the Broncos, oddsmakers in Las Vegas immediately made Denver one of the top choices to win the Super Bowl next season, which will be played in Manning's hometown of New Orleans.

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Giants looking for Manningham's replacement

The Giants knew there was virtually no chance to re-sign Mario Manningham once free agency kicked in, because their salary cap budget did not include spending big bucks for a No. 3 receiver, which is where he sat on the depth chart. Now that Manningham has agreed to terms on a two-year contract with the 49ers, the Giants are officially in the market for a pass-catcher to augment the skills of Hakeem Nicks and Victor Cruz.

It is highly likely the Giants will turn to the NFL Draft to find a receiver, but probably not very early in the draft. Plus, rookie receivers rarely make much of an impact in the Giants offensive system, as coordinator Kevin Gilbride puts great demands on his receivers as far as making reads and adjustments. A veteran could also be imported in free agency but it won’t be a high-priced player who can be expected to make a huge difference.

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JERN-ING POINT: Jerrel Jernigan is among those who will get a good look as the Giants begin their quest to find a third receiver after Mario Manningham signed with the 49ers late Saturday night.

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Two weeks ago, Eli Manning suspected he had thrown his last pass to Manningham, who greatly enhanced his market value after a sluggish regular season (39 catches for 523 yards and four touchdowns) with a break-out postseason (13 catches for 189 yards and three touchdowns). His 38-yard over-the-shoulder catch in the closing minutes was the play of the game as the Giants came back to beat the Patriots in Super Bowl XLVI.

“He had a tremendous playoff run,’’ Manning said. “He stepped in when Hakeem was hurt or Vic was down. He stepped in and started for us and made big plays. He’s been in this offense a long time and knows it and obviously has big-play potential.’’

As Manningham takes that big-play potential to the Bay Area, the Giants must search for a replacement. From within, the three candidates on the roster are all punctuated with question marks rather than exclamation points. General manager Jerry Reese used a third-round pick in last year’s draft on Jerrel Jernigan to develop into a shifty slot receiver with run-after-catch ability. As a rookie, Jernigan played in only eight games, did not catch a pass and struggled early on punt returns to land him a spot on the inactive list for the bulk of the first half of the season. Given the year to learn the NFL ropes, the Giants hope Jernigan takes a huge step forward because the opportunity is there for him.

This is likely the last opportunity for towering Ramses Barden, a 2009 third-round pick who in three seasons has only 15 catches for 174 yards and needs to show something to stick on the roster.

The other option is Domenik Hixon, who has 63 career receptions but has played in only two games the past two seasons because of two reconstructive anterior cruciate ligament surgeries on the same knee.

Hixon was re-signed last week and the Giants hope he can regain the form that made him a reliable kickoff and punt returner, but asking him to become the third receiver might be a stretch.

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Motivation Academy: Scholars wins second 'B' title in third varsity season

The pursuit of a second straight title was just one of many things that motivated Scholars Academy.

The second-seeded Seawolves had a lot to play for in their 51-43 victory over top-seed Bedford Academy in the PSAL Class B girls basketball championship game Saturday at CCNY in Harlem. The victory notched Scholars its second title in its three-year history as a varsity program, its first coming in a blowout victory over Bedford Academy last season.

“I’m enormously proud of these girls,” coach Janet Kleiner said. “Different things have motivated them this season.”

An Rong Xu

Scholars Academy celebrates its second straight 'B' championship.

Photos: Scholars-Bedford

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Scholars coach Janet Kleiner holding up the championship trophy

Photos: Scholars-Bedford

Scholars Academy was led by sophomore Jessica Glaz, who contributed a game-high 21 points and had 13 rebounds while playing with a broken knuckle on her shooting hand suffered in a second-round playoff game. Meanwhile, junior Taylor Gallagher put up 14 points and freshman Emma Michaels added nine points before a third quarter injury kept her on the sidelines.

“Jessica and Taylor, that’s the backbone,” Kleiner said. “I’ve coached 33 years, thousands of kids in different sports and by far [Glaz] is the most competitive student athlete I’ve ever coached.”

The Seawolves (17-2) marched out to an early 6-0 lead and took a commanding 32-11 lead into halftime, only allowing the Panthers to put up four points in the second quarter. Bedford (17-1) began to climb back into the game in the second half, having a fourth-quarter surge scoring 22 points before time ran out on them.

“We just came together as a group,” Glaz said. “We talked about keeping up the pressure because they were motivated in the second half to come out and beat us so we came together as a group and stayed strong and stayed aggressive.”

Bedford was paced by Eleasha Wiggins, who put up a team-high 11 points in the loss while Briana Perlmutter and Alexis Foster each added 10.

Glaz, Gallagher and Michaels led Scholar Academy for most of the game before Michaels hit her head on the floor while going after a loose ball and caught an elbow to the cheek sidelining her for the rest of the game. Glaz and Gallagher continued to dominate the scoreboard after the loss of Michaels.

Even though Scholars Academy lost four of five starters from last season, it was able to put together a solid hard-working team to bring the school its second title in three years, handing Bedford its first loss of the year.

“Four out of the five starters [from last season] are gone so now it’s a new group of girls winning the championship,” Glaz said. “We all have skill so we put those skills together to win a championship and that’s what we did.”

One of the greatest motivators behind the Seawolves championship run came from former assistant coach Claire Droesch who is battling stage 4 breast cancer and was in the stands for Scholars Academy, inspiring them to victory.

“She brings a lot of motivation to us,” Glaz said. “She’s great and very supportive and always there for us especially with what she’s going through it gave us the motivation to win for her.”

Scholars Academy will now travel to Albany to play in the New York State Federation tournament semifinals Friday against Long Island Lutheran. Droesch will be in attendance for that game as she was Sunday.

“They’ve been supportive of me,” Droesch said. “So I felt I had to be here to support them.”

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VCU upsets Wichita State

PORTLAND, Ore. — Shaka Smart and his team pulled off the first major surprise of the NCAA tournament.

That’s right, VCU is back again.

Bradford Burgess hit a key 3-pointer with 1:33 left and Smart coached the 12th-seeded Rams to another March upset, holding off the Shockers 62-59 in the South Region second round last night.

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The Rams (29-6) led by as many as 13 in the second half, but Wichita State closed to 54-53 on Garrett Stutz’s layup with 5:39 left. Troy Daniels hit a 3-pointer for the Rams, and Joe Ragland answered with his own for the Shockers.

Toure Murry made a 3-pointer that gave Wichita State the lead, but Burgess came back with his big shot to give the Rams a 60-59 edge. Darius Theus’ runner from about six feet provided the final margin.

Stutz’s long jumper just before the buzzer was off for fifth-seeded Wichita State (26-6), which will face Indiana in the third round tomorrow. Ragland finished with 15 points after a slow start.

Burgess finished with 16 points, and Theus and Daniels had 10 points apiece for the Rams, who last year became the third No. 11 seed to reach the Final Four.

Indiana 79, New Mexico St. 66

Jordan Hulls went on a second-half shooting spree and finished with 22 points, and fourth-seeded Indiana (26-8) rolled to an impressive win over New Mexico State (26-10) in the NCAA tournament South Region.

Making their return after a four-year tournament absence, the Hoosiers picked up their first tournament win since beating Gonzaga in 2007 on a night their main stars — Cody Zeller and Christian Watford (14 points apiece) — did the heavy lifting early then watched Hulls and others carry the load.

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D'Antoni resigns from Knicks; Woodson takes over as coach

Mike D’Antoni told interim Knicks general manager Glen Grunwald in a meeting before Wednesday’s morning shootaround he didn’t feel he could “positively affect the team’’ anymore.

More to the point, D’Antoni no longer felt he could “positively affect’’ Carmelo Anthony to buy into his speedball system and being a team player, according to sources.

On the day The Post reported Anthony wanted to be traded by Thursday’s NBA deadline unless he had assurances D’Antoni would not be around next season, the Knicks coach made it easy for Anthony.

D’Antoni quit, but only after asking owner James Dolan if the team would consider trading Anthony. The answer was no.

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YOU WIN: Mike D’Antoni resigned yesterday as Knicks coach, unable to get his team in sync with Carmelo Anthony in the lineup.

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ANTHONY STARS IN KNICKS FIRST GAME WITHOUT D'ANTONI

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A month after Jeremy Lin became a global phenomenon under D’Antoni’s watch, the Knicks went from Linsanity to insanity, as D’Antoni resigned because of his conflict with Anthony, whose return from injury sent the Knicks into a 2-8 spiral and 18-24 record.

With 24 games remaining, assistant coach Mike Woodson took over the reins Wednesday night and the Knicks routed the wretched Blazers, 121-79, and Woodson heard his name chanted at Madison Square Garden.

“[Woodson] understands we will be reevaluating him at the end of the season,’’ Dolan said.

Dolan must hope the positive vibes Phil Jackson has sent out turn into reality this summer.

The D’Antoni Era ended ugly and well short of expectations. He resigned shortly after the morning shootaround in what owner Dolan called “a mutual agreement.’’ In fact, Dolan tried to talk D’Antoni out of it, but with no contract extension offered, he thought this was best.

Wednesday night’s press conference to introduce Woodson was somber. Dolan and Grunwald looked genuinely defeated.

“It was a surprise this morning,’’ Grunwald said. “I’m disappointed this happened.

“It wasn’t just Carmelo. It was our whole team not playing up to where we thought it could be. Mike was as frustrated as anyone about that. That’s what led him to that decision. That maybe it needs to be a new approach.’’

Anthony, according to a source, likes Woodson. D’Antoni thought the offense should run through Lin at the point guard and felt it impossible to employ that structure with Anthony in the lineup.

“It was emphatically a resignation,’’ a person familiar with the situation said.

D’Antoni, Grunwald and assistant general manager Allan Houston met before the shootaround when he told them he didn’t think he could lead the club any longer. Grunwald summoned Dolan to Westchester to continue discussions.

“It was not an event planned in any way,’’ Dolan said. “We had a very honest discussion. He clearly felt it was best for the organization if he would not continue as coach of the team. He did offer to stay. But after a long discussion we agreed that it was best for the team to have a new voice and new coach.’’

D’Antoni’s assistants, Phil Weber and Dan D’Antoni, decided to step down, too, out of loyalty. Herb Williams and Kenny Atkinson, a guru for Lin, stayed on. There are no plans to hire another assistant.

“I think he felt it was best for the organization,’’ Grunwald said. “It was a selfless move. He felt he had done all he could and didn’t see another way to positively affect the team. He felt maybe it was time for another voice and coach.”

D’Antoni still ran Wednesday's shootaround, knowing he likely was gone. Anthony denied he wanted to be traded unless D’Antoni was fired.

In his final remarks as Knicks coach, D’Antoni didn’t give hints he had surrendered, but did take the blame for the six-game slide and 18-24 record that had them in ninth place.

“My job is to make them fit,’’ said D’Antoni, who has been experiencing major back pain since February. “We haven’t been able to do that. Bottom line is we’re not playing well and that’s my responsibility.’’

Woodson, the defensive assistant, said he would change the speedball offense over time and add more post-ups for Amar’e Stoudemire.

“The season is not over,’’ Dolan said.

“There’s still a lot at stake here,’’ Woodson said before the club routed Portland. “I understand expectations are high. We still have an opportunity to do something special. I’m going to hold these guys accountable for that.”

Grunwald said D’Antoni never had a stable roster in his four seasons, when he compiled a 121-167 record.

“We came in as a rebuilding situation to free up cap space and made moves that weren’t the best for the short term,’’ Grunwald said. “This season was no different. We had a lot of changes.’’

marc.berman@nypost.com

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Up to Dolan to untangle mess

Mike Vaccaro
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So Carmelo Anthony doesn’t care for Mike D’Antoni’s system, isn’t a fan of interim GM Glen Grunwald’s people skills, isn’t terribly fond of his New York experience as a whole.

Have we left anything out? Is he

unhappy with Mike Nichols’ presentation of “Death of a Salesman”? Angry about Sue Simmons being out at Channel 4? Less than thrilled with the way the plot points have gotten sillier and sillier on “Smash”?

There already is that segment of the Knicks fan base that wants to blame Anthony for everything short of the John Liu scandal, that is fed up by what it has seen across the last six games as the Knicks have regressed from self-proclaimed contenders to ninth-place frauds. And the hard truth is, little in those six games has presented a compelling rebuttal argument.

Now we discover Melo is so fed up by this frustrating season that he wants out, that he reportedly told a confidant he wants the Knicks to exile him because he isn’t happy with D’Antoni’s pinball offense, with Jeremy Lin’s rock-star status, with just about anything else regarding his 13-month tour of basketball New York.

All of this, conveniently, on the eve of the trading deadline.

So, yes, there already would have been 19,763 people perfectly willing to alert Anthony that as disappointing as this marriage may seem to him, it’s nothing compared with the last 12 years of raw sewage they have been exposed to, a cataclysm Anthony’s arrival was supposed to help cleanse, not clutter. The Trail Blazers are the visiting team tonight, but they are not the only enemy.

This is a time when it would behoove James Dolan to make the kind of definitive statement he made last year on the night Anthony was introduced to New York, when he insisted he had nothing to do with the transaction despite reams of evidence to the contrary.

This is no longer a player problem, a coaching problem, a GM problem. These are James Dolan’s Knicks. This is a Knicks problem. And the owner must make a fundamental choice right now: Whom is he going to stand behind?

The player?

Or the coach?

Clearly, this isn’t working. We can agree on that, right? Look, it kills me to say it because I’ve seen Melo at his best, the way he can work and play with teammates when he wants to. Saw it at Syracuse. Saw it in Beijing. Expected him to be willing to do his part in the emergence of Lin and the new Knicks.

Hasn’t happened. Won’t happen. Melo tried to shoulder a little last week in Dallas and San Antonio, said he was slow to adjusting, but the last two scowl-filled losses to Philadelphia and Chicago indicate he sees himself less villain than victim of a world whose plates shifted permanently while he was tending to a groin injury.

Do you trade him? At this point, that’s ridiculous on two fronts: You are suddenly facing a trade deadline with zero leverage, and swapping him for 40 cents on the dollar is lunacy.

The fact is Anthony’s body of work still trends toward him being a top-10 player. And top-10 players don’t show up on your roster every day.

No. Unless Dolan plays the unlikely diplomat and arranges an air-cleaning sit-down, it’s D’Antoni who will have to be sacrificed, and the first instinct for many — even the swollen number of D’Antoni critics — will be outrage. A player big-footing his boss? Who can tolerate that? Look at what the Jazz did to Deron Williams.

Well, the Lakers managed when Magic Johnson booted Paul Westhead. You hardly ever see that on Magic’s permanent record, because he won four titles after he sold out his coach. You can survive.

But it means dealing with an ugly backlash, and hoping Anthony has the stomach for being reviled until he proves himself worthy of a second chance. Neither choice is terribly appetizing, but neither is the product the Knicks present now.

Tough times. Tough choice. Dolan wanted a star-studded team to be able to fill the Garden’s seats and its coffers. He’s gotten that.

Anthony was the star he wanted. Stars can be divas. Divas can be difficult. And sometimes, they need to be indulged.

It isn’t a pretty decision, but then big decisions never were meant to be.

michael.vaccaro@nypost.com

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Yankees’ archenemies will have new attitude

TAMPA — If you talk long enough to Joe Girardi about Bobby Valentine guiding the Red Sox, you get the feeling the Yankees’ manager would like the subject to change.

Sitting in the Yankees’ dugout early last night before a meaningless 1-0 loss to the Red Sox at George M. Steinbrenner Field, Girardi was swamped with questions about the new Red Sox manager, who is never shy about sharing an opinion.

“That’s part of my job, right? To answer questions,’’ Girardi said. “I am sure it’s going to be a different flavor because it’s a different manager. I am sure people thought it was different when I came than when Joe [Torre] was here because I am a different human being.’’

AP

LAUGH IT UP: Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine (left) chats with players Mike Aviles (center) and Jacoby Ellsbury at George M. Steinbrenner Field yesterday before an exhibition game vs. the Yankees.

Valentine was hired by the Yankees’ blood rivals after Terry Francona wasn’t brought back following a shocking collapse by the Red Sox last September, when they went from a virtual wild-card lock to missing the playoffs. Shortly after, reports surfaced of starting pitchers drinking beer in the clubhouse during games they weren’t working.

With his attention to detail and outsized personality, Valentine brings a different look to Fenway Park, but he is following a manager who directed the Red Sox to two World Series titles.

“I don’t know what kind of spice it’s going to add, but we are going to find out,’’ Girardi said of adding Valentine to the best rivalry in sports.

Though Valentine has the personality that likely will embrace the craziness of Red Sox-Yankees, Girardi’s low-key attitude dictates he avoid letting it affect his personality.

“You understand the importance of the game,’’ Girardi said. “I do everything I can not to get caught up in it. Players can feed off your attitude. So as a manager you try to keep the same attitude every day. It’s a long year, and you don’t want to make your club think one game is more important than the other. You do your best to keep it as level as you can.’’

Valentine, a very good game manager, will be a new face for Girardi to work against.

“Some managers are more predictable than others, some less. Some are going to have a better idea what they are going to do because you managed against them,’’ Girardi said. “I never managed against Bobby Valentine. I am sure there are going to be things that are different.

“But one thing that hasn’t changed a whole lot is the players, and their talents haven’t changed. He might do some different things with them that we will get a chance to see during the course of the year. But I look at my club, it’s not like I can make some of my guys 80 stolen base guys.’’

In addition to Francona being out of the dugout, closer Jonathan Papelbon is in Philadelphia and starter John Lackey will miss the season due to surgery. Andrew Bailey is the closer and Daniel Bard is getting a chance to start after being an eighth-inning arm.

So, what Red Sox team does Girardi expect to surface? The one that was arguably the best team in baseball for the first five months last year? Or the one who flushed a postseason spot in the last four weeks?

“I think they are the team from April to August with how talented they are,’’ Girardi said. “I don’t think what happened in September is a reflection of the talent level.’’

Now that talent has a new director who, unlike the old manager, has no problem injecting himself into the spotlight that burns brightly over Red Sox-Yankees.

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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.

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McGirt: Stage set for Macklin at MSG Theater

Former world champion turned trainer Buddy McGirt is predicting his fighter, Matthew Macklin, will upset Sergio Martinez when the two meet for the linear middleweight championship next Saturday night at the Garden Theater.

“Matthew’s just going to go in there and let his fists do the talking,” McGirt said. “I must say, though, that I am very confident that he is going to shock an awful lot of people in this fight.”

An autograph session Tuesday starts a weeklong list of events leading up to the fight. The two boxers will be at Legends Bar on 33rd St. from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. An open workout featuring both fighters is set for noon at Modell’s Sporting Goods in Times Square on Wednesday. The weigh-in is scheduled for 3 p.m. Friday at the Theater. The St. Patrick’s Day fight is to be televised on HBO. Tickets remain on sale.

Newark-based heavyweight contender Tomasz Adamek has been added to the March 24 boxing card that will be televised by the NBC Sports Network from the Aviator Sports and Events Center in Brooklyn. It will be Adamek’s first bout since losing to WBC heavyweight title holder Vitali Klitschko in September in Poland. Adamek (44-2, 28 KOs) will face Dominican native Nagy Aguilera (17-6, 12 KOs) in a scheduled 10-rounder.

“I’m 35 years old, but I’m still a hungry fighter,” Adamek said. “I want to come back and show everyone that I can win this fight and couple next fights and get future title fights again.”

The main event features Brooklyn’s Zab Judah against Vernon Paris. Also scheduled is heavyweight Sergei Liakovich vs. Bryant Jennings.

The inaugural New York State Boxing Hall of Fame induction dinner will be held April 1 at Russo’s On The Bay in Howard Beach. Sugar Ray Robinson heads a list of 12 boxers and eight non-participants to be inducted. Joining Robinson in the inaugural class are Mike Tyson, Jake LaMotta, Carmen Basilio, Riddick Bowe, Carlos Ortiz, Vito Antuofermo, Emile Griffith, Mike McCallum, Gene Tunney, Benny Leonard and Tony Canzoneri.

The non-participant inductees are judge/HBO analyst Harold Lederman, coach Steve Acunto, trainer/cutman Jimmy Glenn, trainers Gil Clancy and Ray Arcel, Ring magazine founder Nat Fleischer, reporter Bill Gallo and referee Arthur Mercante Sr.

Juan Manuel Lopez (31-1, 28 KOs) looks to regain the featherweight title on Showtime tonight when he takes on Orlando Salido Lopez in much-anticipated rematch in Puerto Rico. Less than a year ago, Orlando Salido Lopez (37-11-2, 25 KOs) took the title with an eighth-round TKO over the previously unbeaten Lopez.

Would you ignore someone who is trying to give you $45 million of legitimate money? The New York assembly has made a habit of it in recent years by failing to sanction mixed-martial arts in the state.

The Ultimate Fighting Championship is continuing what is now a four-year campaign to get a bill passed in Albany that would allow it to host as many as four events per year and generate more than $45 million of economic revenue. The bill has died in the Assembly’s Ways and Means Committee the last two years.

New York is just one of three states that have regulatory commissions that do not sanction MMA, though it is OK to compete in each of the martial arts individually. A Muay Thai card, for instance, is scheduled for the Garden Theater on Friday.

Frankie Edgar gets a chance to regain the UFC lightweight title he lost to Ben Henderson last month. Edgar (14-2-1) of Toms River, N.J., lost a close decision to Henderson (16-2) at UFC 144 in Tokyo. A date and site for the rematch will be determined later.

Hopefully, it will be Madison Square Garden.

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Verizon cuts

Verizon Wireless, the largest US mobile-phone carrier, said it is closing three US call centers and relocating employees to cut costs, affecting 3,175 employees. Verizon Wireless is trimming costs after capital spending rose 6.3 percent in 2011.
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Sweet & sour charity

Charity is in short supply as a thrift-store battle brews.

Savers, a fast-growing thrift chain owned by buyout firm Freeman Spogli, has been bad-mouthing nonprofit giant Goodwill as it mounts a sales pitch to prospective acquirers, sources told The Post.

The 225-store retailer hopes to fetch more than $1 billion as it touts annual revenue north of $900 million that last year generated $130 million in Ebitda, or earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization.

Those fat profits are coming despite the fact that privately owned Savers’ business model relies on deep ties with charitable organizations.

If that jarring juxtaposition makes some investors squeamish, sources said Savers has sought to soothe their worries by characterizing Goodwill — the 800-pound gorilla in a retail niche that’s dominated by mom-and-pops — as an inefficient bureaucracy staffed by overpaid execs.

Upping the ante, bankers for Savers have likewise characterized their client as a better community citizen.

“They claim they are more philanthropically oriented (than Goodwill),” according to one potential suitor who has heard the sales pitch for Savers.

Representatives for Barclays Capital and Moelis & Co., the banks hired to manage the sale, declined to comment.

Savers spokeswoman Sara Gaugl said the thrift chain “is focused on its own business and does not comment on the operations of other companies.”

Goodwill spokeswoman Lauren Lawson responded in an e-mail that “84 percent of the collective revenue of the sale of donated goods is funneled right back into community programs.”

Meanwhile, Savers has told investors that as much as half of donations to Goodwill end up in landfills, versus just 10 percent at Savers, which shunts much of its unsold clothing to Third World outlets.

“Goodwill diverts more than 2 billion pounds of goods from landfills each year,” Lawson countered in an e-mailed response.

Bellevue, Wash.-based Savers — which aims to double in size over the next five years — is working to convince investors that thrift stores are becoming more mainstream as shoppers become more wallet-conscious.

“The pitch is that consumers are now accustomed to bargains . . . like those they find on eBay,” according to a source.

For its part, some charities say Savers has played a crucial — if somewhat quiet — role as a supporter, paying by the pound for donated clothes, toys, electronics and housewares.

At Big Brothers & Big Sisters in southwestern Connecticut, payments for donated goods by local Savers stores have been “significant enough for us to maintain more case managers,” says Vincent Rodriguez, an operations supervisor at the mentoring program.

While the charity doesn’t actively alert donors that their goods are going to a for-profit retailer, those who ask generally are “happy that funds are being created,” Rodriguez says. “A lot of folks understand that grants are hard to come by these days.”

He adds that all donors get a receipt that comes with a coupon for “$3 off at Savers.”

jkosman@nypost.com

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BP awards former CEO Hayward $1.1 million bonus

LONDON -- Former BP chief executive Tony Hayward received a bonus from the UK oil major last month worth about £720,000 ($1.1 million) in shares, despite his July 2010 resignation following the Gulf of Mexico oil spill.

The scandal-hit former boss picked up the award as part of a three-year incentive plan scheduled to vest on Feb. 15, 2012, according to a BP annual report with the US SECurities and Exchange Commission (SEC) released Tuesday.

Hayward received 144,422 ordinary shares at a market price of £4.98 each. Another former director, Andy Inglis, who also left the company after the worst offshore spill in US history, was awarded 99,506 shares.

The SEC filing also revealed that Hayward's successor and current CEO, Bob Dudley, received a $6.8 million pay package in cash and shares for 2011, a near tripling of his compensation in the prior year when BP did not pay a performance bonus.

The annual report was released less than a week after BP said it reached an out of court settlement worth about $7.8 billion with thousands of individuals and businesses affected by the Gulf disaster.

BP has recorded a $37.2 billion charge for what the British company estimates will be its maximum spill-related costs. It said the settlement Friday does not change the figure.

The settlement must still be approved by US District Judge Carl Barbier in New Orleans.

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Dingle too much inside as St. Ray's holds off scrappy All Hallows

Oliver Antigua was beside himself on the sidelines. All Hallows doesn’t have a player over 6-foot-3 and his St. Raymond team was hoisting up jump shot after jump shot, ignoring Division I-bound swingmen Daniel Dingle and Kerwin Okoro inside.

“Guys, what are we doing? We talked about this,” Antigua said he told his players. “At halftime, I said, ‘Dingle is on fire. Let’s keep feeding him the ball.’”

The Ravens started listening in the second quarter, where Dingle had 14 of his 27 points. St. Ray’s took the lead there and didn’t look back against All Hallows for a 70-54 victory in the CHSAA Class AA boys basketball intersectional quarterfinals Sunday night at Fordham University in The Bronx. St. Raymond gets a rematch with Cardinal Hayes in the semifinals 6 p.m. Wednesday at St. John’s University, where it has lost the last two seasons.

Denis Gostev

St. Raymond's Daniel Dingle had 14 of his 27 points in the second quarter and added eight rebounds in the Ravens' quarterfinal victory.

“I was just one-on-one down there by myself,” the 6-foot-7 Dingle said of his post positioning multiple times. “I think that’s a basket.”

All Hallows (10-15) hung around for a long time, though. The Gaels were within 43-39 with 3:27 left in the third quarter after a John Brens three-point play. With 2:40 left in the game, Brens had five straight points to get All Hallows as close as 62-54. St. Ray’s (19-9) was playing its Bronx rival for a fourth time this year and second time in the postseason after beating All Hallows in the Archdiocesan quarterfinals.

“They shot the ball well early,” Antigua said of the Gaels. “They put a lot of pressure on us. They fought until the end. They’re almost like a big man away from being a really dangerous team.”

Okoro had 14 points and 13 rebounds and Dingle added eight rebounds. Davon Robinson had 15 points, Raz Council had 14 points, Ethan Hamlet had 12 points and Brens added 11 for All Hallows, which upset Xaverian in the second round on Thursday.

“They came out with the first punch and we responded,” Dingle said.

Now St. Raymond gets Hayes once again after falling to the Cardinals twice during the regular season and beating them in the Archdiocesan semifinals. There is bad blood between the two programs. The Ravens didn’t like the way their rivals celebrated on their court after the first win and liked even less what Hayes coach Joe Lods said about them before the Archdiocesan game. Antigua even went as far as to thank Lods for motivating his team to victory with the “trash talk.”

Adding to the storyline is the fact that St. Ray’s has lost at St. John’s in disappointing fashion each of the last two seasons to Christ the King. CK is out of the playoffs now – Mount beat the two-time defending champs Sunday in the quarters – but the goal is still the same for the Ravens.

“This time I’m trying to leave with a win,” Dingle said. “My team, we’re amped and hungry.”

mraimondi@nypost.com

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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.

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Blackstone Group, Blackstone, American International Group, block trade

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Huey re-upping at Time

Keith J. Kelly

MEDIA INK

Time Inc. CEO Laura Lang has been on the job for three months now and it seems that one of her decisions — namely, who will run the editorial operations — will result in no major upheaval. Insiders say she is renewing the contract of John Huey.

Huey, editor-in-chief since 2005, was one of the troika said to be instrumental in ending the reign of Lang’s predecessor, Jack Griffin, last February after less than six months on the job.

Lang, who came from the digital agency Digitas with no background in journalism, has been taking things very slowly.

Jill Abramson glares as she runs the gauntlet of a newsroom protest that drew a crowd of staffers." title="FORCED MARCH: Times Executive Editor Jill Abramson glares as she runs the gauntlet of a newsroom protest that drew a crowd of staffers." width="300" height="300" src="/rw/nypost/2012/03/02/business/web_photos/02.1f032.mediaink1.c--300x300.jpg" />

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FORCED MARCH: Times Executive Editor Jill Abramson glares as she runs the gauntlet of a newsroom protest that drew a crowd of staffers.

Sources say that approach is keeping in line with Time Warner CEO Jeff Bewkes’ mandate, since the quick changes orchestrated by Griffin in his first 100 days rankled insiders and eventually led to the Griffin ouster after a clash of styles.

The original scenario would have been for Huey to gracefully exit sometime after the 2012 election, clearing the way for a Lang-appointed successor to take the reins and eventually put in a new stable of editors at Time and other top weeklies.

Now, with Huey staying on board, insiders think Lang is in no great hurry to make edit changes, since most of the editors running the big weekly magazines such as People, Time and Sports Illustrated, as well as bi-weekly Fortune and monthly Money, are all Huey appointees.

Neither Huey nor Lang would comment.

Whitney’s wake

Whitney Houston is no Elvis—but she’s close.

The black-and-white bootleg photo of a dead Elvis Presley lying in his coffin on the cover of the National Enquirer in 1977 led to its best-selling issue of all time — with 7.7 million copies sold at 39 cents each.

The Enquirer said a similar unauthorized photo of Houston in her coffin on the cover of last week’s issue had estimated sales of 770,000 — about one-tenth of the Elvis sales total.

But today’s copies are going for $3.79 — nearly 10 times the price in ’77 — so it is nearly a wash as far as net revenue goes.

American Media CEO David Pecker said the Whitney cover issue — which sparked outrage by some fans — was “the best-selling issue in the past 18 months.”

Pecker also said that the previous week covering Whitney’s death sold about 625,000.

In the second half of 2011, the Enquirer was selling 472,731 copies a week on newsstands, which was an 11.4 percent drop. Its circulation, including subscriptions, was 618,770 in the second half.

The company saw a 17 percent drop in cash flow in its third quarter. It closes its fiscal year on March 31 and needs all the help it can get to satisfy investors.

Occupy NYT

The top trio of editors at the New York Times, including Executive Editor Jill Abramson, released a very sympathetic letter to rank-and-file newsroom employees yesterday following a silent protest inside the paper’s offices by union members on Wednesday.

Members of the Newspaper Guild, the largest union at the Times, representing reporters and photographers and some business-side people, had staged a silent protest by lining the hallway outside the page one meeting on Tuesday afternoon.

A photo of the silent protest (above) was tweeted yesterday.

The protest was not directed at Abramson or Managing Editors Dean Baquet or John Geddes. The aim was for the editors to relay to Chairman Arthur “Pinch” Sulzberger, Jr. the newsroom anger at the stalled contract talks.

The Newspaper Guild has been without a contract since March 31, 2011. The Guild said that in talks the company has been pushing to freeze pension benefits.

Apparently, what stoked the newsroom anger was a report on Footnoted.org that crunched the numbers in the Times’ recently-filed 10-K revealing that ousted former President and CEO Janet Robinson will get, in addition to her severance and pension, an added $4.5 million for a gig that requires her to do no more than 15 hours of consulting per month. If she puts in all 15 hours, it works out to $375,000 a month or $25,000 per hour.

But the consulting gig is only part of her farewell package, estimated to be more than $21 million.

Bill O’Meara, president of the Newspaper Guild, said the protest was organized by the newsroom, not the Guild.

The editors appear sympathetic.

“Yesterday’s gathering by the page one room shortly before the 4 p.m. meeting was another reminder of how deeply unsettling this time has been,” said a memo released by Abramson, Baquet and Geddes to staffers yesterday. “We understand those concerns.”

kkelly@nypost.com

Jill Abramson, Jill Abramson, Laura Lang, Keith J. KellyMEDIA INKTime Inc., Jack Griffin, Elvis Presley, Newspaper Guild, Time Warner CEO Jeff Bewkes’

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