New England Patriots

Just one week after the New York Jets turned in their most complete performance of the season in a 26-17 win over the Buffalo Bills, some wondered whether the team was not ripe for yet another letdown against the seemingly rejuvenated St. Louis Rams, who had won two of its last four games after a dreadful 0-4 start. In truth, all the classic indicators were in place: an exuberant victory in the preceding week and a crucial game against the New England Patriots on the near horizon. The Jets, it seemed, were in for trouble. After all, this is the same team that squeaked past a winless Bengals team before collapsing against the Oakland Raiders and then allowing Chiefs quarterback Tyler Thigpen, he of the 42 passer rating, to push their season to the very brink of oblivion.  read more »

Yesterday, after a summer spent pumping iron and running laps, the fat kid with glasses returned to school a slimmer, more muscled challenger to his fair-haired tormentors. There would be no more spit balls in his hair now. No more “kick me” signs on his back or hours spent trying to escape the inside of a gym locker. No, the order of things would be different this time.

The bullies would be vanquished; the triumphant nerd, carried shoulder high by his adoring peers and then set down before the girl who never knew his name. All that lay between him and his new identity was the small matter of doing it, of meeting the varsity quarterback in the alley after school and letting him know there was a new world order.  read more »

It must be really tough for famous ex-lovers to avoid awkward encounters in New York—a town with only a handful of nightspots catering to their special needs. Take last night for example, when supermodel Gisele Bündchen and her beau, New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, stopped by hip hangout Butter, on Lafayette.  read more »

It’s true, technically, that the Giants could sit their starters this week against the Patriots.

But they shouldn’t.

Although a loss wouldn’t affect the Giants’ playoff spot, they need a win, or at least a good battle.

The Giants, who face a first-round matchup against Tampa Bay, must send out their starters and show that they can beat an elite team.  read more »

Giants O Needs a Barber

CHARLES CURTIS

How ironic that on a night that Tiki Barber used halftime to revisit his stinging comments regarding Eli Manning’s leadership last August, the Giants lost 22-10 in a game in which they needed him the most.  read more »

Governor Bill Richardson has found the day's most creative way to attack the Bush administration.

In an email his campaign just sent out to reporters titled "Governor Bill Richardson Statement on New England Patriots Spying Incident,"  Richardson is quoted as telling voters in Iowa today that "The President has been allowed to spy on Americans without a warrant, and our U.S. Senate is letting it continue. You know something is wrong when the New England Patriots face stiffer penalties for spying on innocent Americans than Dick Cheney and George Bush."

 

Mike Tannenbaum, the Jets’ 36-year-old whiz of general manager, had spent most of the game scr  read more »

Before getting into what’s wrong with Malcolm Gladwell, it helps to talk about what’s been right  read more »

Although there's still scaffolding in place (and a gigantic billboard, too), some big name buyers have already arrived at The Plaza. Socialite Jocelyn Wildenstein is picking up a 3,000-square-foot apartment that went for just under $10 million, according to the New York Post. Fleeing East 82nd Street, Ms. Wildenstein will be joined by developer Harry Macklowe, New England Patriots owner (and sometime Putin pal) Robert Kraft, and Bear Stearns chief James Cayne.

Also, a contract has been signed on a $40 million pad at 15 Central Park West--just a few million shy of Daniel Loeb's record breaking purchase in the building. And Britney Spears reduced the price of her Silk Building condo to $4.5 million (but haven't we heard that before).

- Michael Calderone

The Munipal Art Society and Curbed have been collecting photos of massive advertising on buildings, like The Plaza above.  read more »

The New York Post reports that New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft--famous for giving his Super Bowl ring to Vladimir Putin--is buying at the The Plaza. However, there's no word yet on the specifics of his apartment. Regardless, Mr. Kraft will join some elite company: Bear Stearns chief James Cayne, Formula One's Flavio Briatore, and developer Harry Macklowe (who's buying two units).

Also, jewelry designer David Yurman is buying a $3.125 million apartment to add to his triplex. And, Haley Lieberman Binn--wife of Niche Media head, Jason Binn--is leaving Stribling for the Corcoran Group.  read more »

- Michael Calderone

For one weekend in New Hampshire, General Wesley K. Clark might as well havebeen Dwight Eisenhower.  read more »

The Academy Award nominees for 2001 reflect a growing eccentricity that amounts to a jumbled consens  read more »

Rudy Giuliani: The Quintessential Control Freak After eight years as one of the most formidable and  read more »