Final pieces of Shea Stadium come down; Mets fans desperately hoping that talk of the 2009 collapse ends with that.

Derek Jeter has A-Rod’s back, miffed at the use of the term “steroid era”; “Not everyone is doing it,” the Yankee captain pointed out, “It’s like in the ‘supposed’ Renaissance period, I’m sure there were plenty of dumb asses who were laying around doing nothing to improve the world… but no one makes note of them.”

Solid game by Kidd gives Mavs the win over Nets;  Mark Cuban to permanently hitch his wagon to this single game in proving he was right to trade Devin Harris.

Castillo feels like new man, aims to find a way to prove his worth; Second baseman determined on improved play in ’09, and will also return $10 million to the Mets.