Columnists

Newsday's sports columnists covering New York and national sports and issues, including Neil Best, David Lennon, Bob Glauber, Barbara Barker and more.

Popper: Would you rather be the Knicks or the Nets?

The Nets are closer to a title in terms of talent. The Knicks have some stability and future. But both teams still are flawed.

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Lennon: Yankees' bullpen depth becoming sore point

Jonathan Loaisiga -- who many had talked about as the heir apparent to Aroldis Chapman -- became the third high-leverage reliever to land on the IL in the span of five days, joining Chad Green (Tommy John surgery) and Chapman (Achilles tendinitis).

Lennon: Trevino sheds tears of joy, sadness

Jose Trevino's emotional day ends with game-winning hit in 11th against Orioles.

Gross: Carolina happy to have ex-Ranger DeAngelo

De'Angelo figures to be in the middle of any dust-ups beween the two teams

Gross: Rangers have shown they are better than Hurricanes

They have the talent to win second-round series, despite Carolina having home-ice advantage.

Lennon: LeMahieu, Chapman injuries push cruising Yanks toward crisis

In the wake of the Josh Donaldson/Tim Anderson saga, injury woes have the first-place Yankees dealing with adversity.

Lennon: MLB doesn't call Donaldson racist

Donaldson has to wear the backlash from his borderline behavior.

Best: Shesterkin shut the door after his slip-up

The goalie allowed a goal on a harmless backhand shot but did not falter again in the Rangers' Game 3 win.

Lennon: Donaldson certainly needs to read the room better

Even if he meant no harm with his comment to Tim Anderson, he was foolish to make the comment to someone who already had a problem with him.

Lennon: Lindor's numbers can't be escaped . . . $341 million

Whenever Francisco Lindor struggles, it will always be put in the context of his hefty salary.

Albanese: Injuries to Green, Gil are Yankees' first big tests

Winning means adapting, and there might have to be plenty of that in the Yankees' future.

Lennon: Max Scherzer injury the latest storm Mets must weather

Their Cy Young ace already out, and the one they acquired now expected to miss six-to-eight weeks, the Mets' "next man up" mantra faces a big test with their upcoming stretch.

Barker: Landmark soccer deal puts women, men on equal footing

World Cup prize money will be pooled between the U.S. men's and women's teams and split equally among all players.

Lennon: Buck, bench players holding Mets together

With Jacob deGrom progressing but not close, Francisco Lindor continuing to struggle and some other important faces away from the club, keeping team on track is requiring a full team effort.

Best: Gallant's tactic is simple — keep it simple

The Rangers coach says he prepares for playoff games just like he does for the first game of the season.

Best: Isles have new coach, but pressure still remains on Lou

Lane Lambert seems like a good fit; now GM has to go get the right players

Best: Rangers are on the right path

The Broadway Blueshirts were back on center stage, where they and their fans expect them to be.

Best: There's just no quit in these Rangers

The motto couldn't be more spot-on as they win Game 7 with yet another comeback.

Lennon: Mets' season wasn't going to stay as easy as it seemed

The Mets lost their first series of the season and are 9-8 in their last 17, a reminder they are going to have to endure rough spots to get where they want to go.

Rieber: Mets show Jankowski love by putting his name on their backs

Teammates noting Stony Brook star's quote about "checking ego at the door"

Glauber: Slimmer Daboll has healthy outlook

"I lost about 40 pounds since I got this job," the first-time head coach said.

Lennon: Yankees making it seem as if the balls are quite lively

The Yankees possess the most effective antidote to whatever has made ballparks a no-fly zone: Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton.

Popper: Some names for Knicks if they get lucky, and if they don't, in lottery

Here are the best-case scenarios and the reality as the Knicks prepare for the NBA Draft Lottery.

Gross: Shesterkin needs to learn to be a playoff goalie

Shesterkin was good enough to beat the Penguins on Wednesday night but he will need to get better

Lennon: Yankees looking like best team in baseball

They have a major-league best 22-8 record and have been particularly impressive against the highy-regarded Blue Jays.

Lennon: Aaron Judge is money in bank

Yankees' most dependable hitter does it again, with walkoff home run against Blue Jays and his value is skyrocketing daily.

Lennon: Yankees rotation's stats making heads spin

Going into Tuesday night, they were first in the American League for ERA and K/BB ratio, second in WHIP and opponents batting average and third in HR/9.

Best: Getting rid of Trotz puts Lou in line of fire

Islanders president gambles that another coach can right the ship

Lennon: Cortes' near no-no almost created an 'uh-oh' situation

If he carried it into the ninth, there would have been a difficult decision with his high pitch count.

Lennon: For Cole, one mistake is one too many

Cole vs. Kole matchup doesn't go Yankees' way, but they emerge with a Game 1 win anyway.

Glauber: Sauce Gardner has surprise in store for Mom

The Jets' first-round cornerback wants to pay back his mother for all her sacrifices.

Lennon: Attitude, performance of owners of Reds, A's is outrageous

The Reds and A's not only have gotten rid of numerous good players but have insulted their fan bases.

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Albanese: These Mets know how to have fun, could be very special

There is lots of excitement and camaraderie, just like the 1999 and 2000 teams.

Best: Resilient Rangers get even with Pens

The franchise now is 9-1 since 1950 when playing Game 2 at home after losing Game 1.

Best: Rangers in playoffs. Might as well win.

The Rangers made the playoffs earlier than expected. Might as well win some series while they're here.

Lennon: Boos make '22 debut at Citi Field

When Adam Ottavino let Tylor Megill's solid start unravel into a blowout loss, Mets fans felt what's been a rarity this season: upset!

Best: Even in loss, Rangers return playoff thrills to MSG

"Gutsy efforts by a lot of guys," Ryan Strome said, "and unfortunately just came out on the wrong side of a triple-overtime, great hockey game."

Lennon: Jankowski giving Mets exactly what they need

Spared by the end of Robinson Cano's Mets tenure, the Stony Brook product has been a spark who won't be going anywhere anytime soon.

Best: Rangers return to playoffs as Lundqvist watches

Former Rangers goalie will work the series as an MSG analyst across the street from where he once shined.

Rieber: Mets made the wrong move with Cano

He's still an asset, writes Anthony Rieber. Why part ways with an asset?

Cano's role with Mets shrinking before our eyes

Sitting Cano on Sunday night against a righthander was a glaring omission.

Rieber: Five Guys No Hitter adds fuel to Mets' hot start

It could have fans believing this is a special team.

Glauber: Let's hope Jets play as well as Douglas did in draft

Jets GM's offseason performance has been as good as it gets around here.

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Lennon: Bauer case could take a while to resolve

He intends to appeal his two-year suspension and civil suits likely will proceed.

Glauber: Jets' Joe Douglas shows deft draft skills

Reminiscent of the greatest NY football genius of all time, Bill Parcells.

Glauber: Jets, Giants hope to look back on '22 draft as game-changer

Two teams in need of major transformations get started early with four picks in Top 10.

Lennon: Dominating O's key to Yanks winning East

The Orioles were horrible defensively as Yanks completed sweep

Lennon: Eventually, Mets were going to hit back over HBPs

"There's consequences, whether it's on purpose or not," Pete Alonso said, "and we're going to stand up for ourselves."

Lennon: 'Yankee Letter' doesn't spell C-H-E-A-T-I-N-G

Sorry Yankee Haters: The letter does not incriminate the club in a sign-stealing scandal to the magnitude of what both the Red Sox and Astros were able to pull off during their championship seasons.

Best: NYC can become Rangers Town again now

With the Nets swept out of the NBA playoffs, the Rangers can capture the city's sporting fever with a a deep playoff run.

Barker: Irving at center of Nets' troubles

Talented guard's vaccination status hovers over a sour season.

Glauber: Super talented QB Willis could be Man of Steelers

Willis, Kenny Pickett and Matt Corral are the highest-rated quarterbacks in this year's draft.

Barker: KD remains NBA's best despite Nets' tough season

No one in the league is a better scorer and no one has been asked to do more for his team (and country) than Durant has this year.

Glauber: Can Schoen find his way out of this mess?

Dave Gettleman's replacement embarks on his first NFL draft for Big Blue

Lennon: Cole restores order to the Yankees' world

After a horrendous start on Tuesday, he's his usual dominant self against the Guardians.

Barker: For third straight game, KD doesn't have it

Celtics hold superstar to 16 points and Durant's teammates don't step up.

Lennon: Times (of games) might be a changin'

In the minors, pitch clock alone has shaved 20-odd minutes this season

Lennon: Unruly Yanks fans tarnish glad tidings in ninth

Yankees' most exciting victory of the season turned ugly in a New York minute

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