toniaie

The Yankees take on the Rays on Tuesday night for the first time since they suffered a season-opening sweep in Tampa Bay.

Ivan Nova takes the mound for the Yankees against Rays ace James Shields.

Yankees, the Yankees, James Shields, Rays

Nypost.com

FIRST-1 1/16 miles; $58,000; alw; 3YO

2

Atigun (Leparoux)

4.20

2.40

2.20

5

Poltcallycorrect (Rosaro)

3.40

2.80

6

Slamit (Court)

3.80

* Exacta (2-5) $11.60 * Trifecta (2-5-6) $112.20

SECOND-6 fur; $53,000; mdn; 3up

2

Bg Rng (Leparoux)

12.20

3.80

2.80

10

Vasten (Hernandez,Jr.)

2.60

2.20

9

Kingwood (Contreras)

3.60

Scr: Flying Bob John, Hamiltonian, Speargun.

* Double (2-2) $25.40 * Exacta (2-10) $26.40 * Trifecta (2-10-9) $173.00

THIRD-1 1/16 miles; $55,300; alw; 3YO

1

Skyring (Nakatani)

33.20

12.60

8.00

5

Golden Tcket (Leparoux)

4.20

3.00

3

Agent Di Nozzo (Bridgmohan)

5.20

* Double (2-1) $249.00 * Exacta (1-5) $112.60 * Trifecta (1-5-3) $826.00

FOURTH-1 1/16 miles(T); $60,600; alw; 3up

7

Nght Prty (Lebron)

13.00

6.60

4.40

2

The Progrm (HernndzJr.)

11.00

6.60

6

Stay Put (Castanon)

4.00

Scr: Vigilante Law, Souper Spectacular, Vertiformer, Westshore, Silver Rock, Crimson China.

* Double (1-7) $336.00 * Exacta (7-2) $161.60 * Trifecta (7-2-6) $1,241.80

FIFTH-7 fur; $55,300; alw; 3YO

10

Mcho Mcho (Nktn)

17.00

6.20

3.80

6

Thermal Cat (Rosario)

4.60

3.40

3

Mile High Magic (Garcia)

2.60

Scr: Fearsome, Love Reigns, Tiz Tee Time, Adena's Chance.

* Double (7-10) $121.00 * Exacta (10-6) $72.20 * Trifecta (10-6-3) $200.40

SIXTH-5 fur(T); $125,000; 4up

Twin Spires Turf Sprint

2

Gret Attck (Rosro)

10.80

4.60

3.60

4

Bridgetown (Velazquez)

3.40

3.00

3

Cactus Son (Gomez)

8.20

* Double (10-2) $101.80 * Exacta (2-4) $32.00 * Trifecta (2-4-3) $416.80

SEVENTH-7 fur; $400,000; 4up

Churchill Downs Stakes

4

Shcklford (Cstnn)

5.60

3.20

2.40

6

Amazombie (Smith)

3.20

2.40

7

Gantry (Eramia)

4.20

* Double (2-4) $35.40 * Exacta (4-6) $16.20 * Superfecta (4-6-7-2) $583.60 * Trifecta (4-6-7) $174.20

EIGHTH-1 mile(T); $200,000; 4up(f)

Churchill Distaff Turf Mile

10

Hngry Islnd (Vlzqz)

13.80

6.40

4.60

4

Tapitsfly (Dominguez)

6.00

3.80

9

La Reine Lionne (Castellano)

5.00

Scr: Aruna, Annabel Lee, Hooh Why.

* Double (4-10) $66.80 * Exacta (10-4) $91.80 * Trifecta (10-4-9) $630.80

NINTH-7 fur; $300,000; 4up(f)

Humana Distaff

6

Group Doll (Mrgh)

8.20

4.40

3.20

8

Muscal Romance (Leyva)

5.40

4.00

1

Magical Feeling (Alvarado,Jr.)

5.80

* Double (10-6) $81.40 * Exacta (6-8) $41.60 * Superfecta (6-8-1-5) $2,521.00 * Trifecta (6-8-1) $351.40

TENTH-1 1/8 miles(T); $500,000; 4up

Woodford Reserve Turf Classic

1

Little Mike (Bravo)

26.40

13.40

8.20

5

Slim Shadey (Flores)

11.60

6.80

10

Brilliant Speed (Velazquez)

6.40

* Pick 3 (10-6-1) 3 Correct $1,777.40 * Daily Double (6-1) $154.00 * Exacta (1-5) $403.60 * Superfecta (1-5-10-6) $61,737.00 * Trifecta (1-5-10) $4,679.80

ELEVENTH- 1 1/8 miles; $2,000,000; 3YO

Kentucky Derby

19

I'll Hv Anthr (Gtrrz)

32.60

13.80

9.00

6

Bodemeister (Smith)

6.20

5.60

5

Dullahan (Desormeaux)

7.20

Scr: My Adonis.

* Pick 6 (2-4-10-6-1-19) 6 Correct $675,148.00, 5 Correct $3,161.80 * $0.5 Pick 5 (4-10-6-1-19) 5 Correct $23,923.80 * Pick 4 (10-6-1-19) 4 Correct $31,124.40 * Pick 3 (6-1-19) 3 Correct $3,297.40, $0.5 Pick 3 OAKS/WDFRD/DERBY 9-1-19 * Future Wager (FUTURE POOL 1 - 13) $60.20 * Future Wager (FUTURE POOL 2 - 12) $46.20 * Future Wager (FUTURE POOL 3 - 10) $45.60 * Superfecta (19-6-5-13) $96,092.80 * Trifecta (19-6-5) $3,065.60 * Daily Double (1-19) $817.60 * Daily Double (OAKS/DERBY 9-19) $731.20 * Exacta (19-6) $306.60 * Future Wager (FUTURE EXACTA POOL 1 13-24) $257.80 * Future Wager (FUTURE EXACTA POOL 2 12-3) $1,661.00 * Future Wager (FUTURE EXACTA POOL 3 11-2) $1,351.40

TWELFTH-6 1/2f; $58,000; alw; 3up

2

Bt th Powr (Rosro)

5.80

3.60

2.80

3

Shrill (Gomez)

5.20

3.60

4

Maan (Castellano)

3.00

Scr: De Price, Saturday Dance, Sun Bear.

* Pick 3 (1-19-2) 3 Correct $2,788.20 * Daily Double (19-2) $125.60 * Exacta (2-3) $25.00 * Superf. (2-3-4-10) $280.20 * Tri. (2-3-4) $80.60

THIRTEENTH-mile; $53,000; mdn; 3up

10

Mr. Tcket (Naktn)

42.40

14.80

9.20

1

Dynamical (Bridgmohan)

3.60

3.00

4

Z Camelot (Desormeaux)

5.60

Scr: Moon Traveler.

* Pick 4 (1-19-2/5/6/9-10) 4 Correct $67,967.00 * Pick 3 (19-2-10) 3 Correct $4,559.40 * Daily Double (2-10) $137.20 * Exacta (10-1) $203.60 * Superfecta (10-1-4-7) $15,675.40 * Trifecta (10-1-4) $1,256.60

Attendance: Unavailable

Trifecta, Trifecta, Daily Double, Daily Double

Nypost.com

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The stench that smothered the Midwest last night didn’t come from tons of decaying beef in a sweltering stock yard.

No, the nose-jerking odor came off the Yankees who a month into the season have major reasons to be concerned even if they are not admitting it publicly.

After losing Mariano Rivera for the year, the Yankees talked about how everybody had to chip in to make up for the void.

Since Rivera’s season ended Thursday night, the Yankees have dropped two of three to the Royals and last night’s 5-1 loss was an embarrassment witnessed by a Kauffman Stadium crowd of 29,121.

Joel Sherman
Blog: Hardball

Take a step back. Don’t look in the present, where Mariano Rivera is hurt and Derek Jeter is spending the early season challenging .400. Don’t project forward what either fact might mean to this Yankees season.

No, take that step back. Look at the big picture. Think perspective.

Consider those two guys walked into the Yankees’ lives just about simultaneously, both getting their major league cups of coffee in 1995 and becoming cornerstones of a dynasty a year later.

No, really, think about it. The all-time saves leader and the shortstop — a guy who has us again, at the least, contemplating if he can take a run at 4,000 hits and Pete Rose — arrived in the same place at the same time. We are talking about arguably two of the best 50 players ever? The chances of them debuting within six days of each other for the same team are, what, one in a million? Two million? More?

N.Y. Post: Francis Specker

Mariano Rivera, left, and Derek Jeter

Now let’s make it more unfathomable. That 1995 season also was the debut campaign for Andy Pettitte and Jorge Posada. They are not obvious Hall of Famers like Rivera and Jeter, but Pettitte and Posada are borderline guys who are going to make voters think.

Which makes me think: Has any organization in any sport ever premiered four players in one season as good as the 1995 Yankees did with Rivera, Jeter, Pettitte and Posada? My email address is at the bottom of this column. Really, I would love to hear your thoughts.

My thought is that more than George Steinbrenner’s wallet or demanding ways or any other element, the quick rise and enduring brilliance of that quartet was the engine of a Yankees dynasty. We are talking two middle-of-the-diamond difference-makers, a top-of-the-rotation lefty and the greatest closer ever. Really, take a step back and think about that.

Because it was one of my first thoughts this week when Rivera crumpled at Kauffman Stadium. I stepped back from the troubling images happening in real time and the problems ahead for the Yankees and marveled at what a long, amazing run it has been. Rivera and Jeter both showed up in May 1995 and there they were, still together — still great — in May 2012. Well, until now, when maybe we have seen the last of Rivera.

Honoring his indomitable persona, Rivera has pledged to return from his torn ACL to pitch again, but probably not until next year. Here are some thoughts as he exits, at least for a little while:

* If Rivera does not make it back, he will be up for the Hall of Fame in the Class of 2018. At this moment no one has been voted in unanimously. The record is 98.84 percent of the vote by Tom Seaver. Maybe someone between now and Rivera’s eligibility who was unquestionably great and not associated with steroids — someone like, say, Greg Maddux — will break Seaver’s record or go in unanimously.

Next >

1

2

Mariano Rivera, Derek Jeter, Andy Pettitte, Francis SpeckerMariano Rivera, Yankees, Jorge Posada, Derek JeterNow, Yankees dynasty, the Yankees

Nypost.com

FIRST-4 1/2f; $53,000; mdn spcl wt; 2YO; (f)

3

Qut Succss (Albrd)

8.00

3.00

2.40

1

Lignite (Rosario)

2.20

2.10

6

Miz Wounded Knee (Bejarano)

3.60

Scr: Sweet Shirley Mae, Brook's Secret.

* Exacta (3-1) $13.60 * Trifecta (3-1-6) $54.00

Winner picked by DaSIlva

SECOND-6f; $18,200; str alw; 4up

3

Plasm Bem (Cruz)

2.40

2.20

2.10

2

Macho Joe (Bethncourt)

4.40

2.80

1

Keepnonestephed (Kuntzwelr)

2.20

Scr: He Ain't Right.

* Daily Double (3-3) $13.00 * Exacta (3-2) $9.60 * Trifecta (3-2-1) $16.80

Double picked by DaSilva

THIRD-1 1/16m; $19,300; mdn cl($20,000); 3up

3

Brgade (Albarado)

3.60

2.60

2.20

6

Regal Quest (Mena)

4.80

3.20

4

Yes He's Trouble (Desormeux)

3.00

* Pick 3 (3-3-3) 3 Correct $21.40 * Daily Double (3-3) $5.60 * Exacta (3-6) $13.00 * Superfecta (3-6-4-7) $157.40 * Trifecta (3-6-4) $47.20

FOURTH-6f; $22,500; cl($20,000); 3YO

7

J C's Drm (Gnclvs)

4.80

3.20

2.60

1

Dynmte Lonn D (Albrdo)

4.20

3.40

6

Cowcutta (Lebron)

5.40

Scr: Tarpy Says.

* Pick 4 (3-3/6-3-3/7) 4 Correct $82.80 * Pick 3 (3-3-7) 3 Correct $16.80 * Daily Double (3-7) $11.20 * Exacta (7-1) $21.00 * Superfecta (7-1-6-2) $285.80 * Trifecta (7-1-6) $131.80

FIFTH-5 1/2f; $19,300; mdn cl($20,000); 3up; (f&m)

6

Virgina Ann (Saez)

3.80

2.40

2.10

4

Trupeg (Lanerie)

3.20

2.60

2

Sikura's Gift (Albarado)

4.40

Scr: Pretty Witty.

* Pick 3 (3-7-6) 3 Correct $24.40 * Daily Double (7-6) $13.60 * Exacta (6-4) $9.40 * Superfecta (6-4-2-8) $93.80 * Trifecta (6-4-2) $42.00

Winner picked by DaSIlva

SIXTH-6f; $24,600; cl($30,000); 3up

8

Red Msert (Rosro)

7.00

4.20

3.00

3

Condurre (Borel)

5.60

3.80

4

Monty Haul (Mena)

4.80

Scr: Billybillwillywill.

* Pick 3 (7-6-8) 3 Correct $46.80 * Daily Double (6-8) $15.20 * Exacta (8-3) $51.20 * Superfecta (8-3-4-5) $1,550.40 * Trifecta (8-3-4) $427.40

SEVENTH-1 1/16m(T); $55,300; alw; 3up; (f&m)

3

Warm Hugs (Nktn)

6.80

3.20

2.60

9

Kitty Wine (Leparoux)

3.40

2.80

1

Constantinople (Russell)

5.80

Scr: Putthebabiesdown, Frances Gardner, Tapit Dancer, Eagle Hall, Miss Jackson Grace.

* Pick 4 (3/7-5/6-8-3) 4 Correct $218.60 * Pick 3 (6-8-3) 3 Correct $56.40 * Daily Double (8-3) $24.00 * Exacta (3-9) $18.60 * Superfecta (3-9-1-4) $964.40 * Trifecta (3-9-1) $143.40

EIGHTH-1m; $19,300; cl($15,000); 3up; (f&m)

11

Afleet Lex (Grhm)

11.60

7.00

5.00

8

Moon Dncng (Brdgmohn)

7.20

4.40

3

Class of Fifty Two (Vazquez)

5.60

Scr: Drivingmitziandmax, Alpha Nova.

* Pick 3 (8-3-11) 3 Correct $201.40 * Daily Double (3-11) $58.00 * Exacta (11-8) $98.80 * Superfecta (11-8-3-7) $4,570.80 * Trifecta (11-8-3) $554.80

NINTH-1m(T); $65,000; alw opt clm; 3up

5

Seruni (Lanerie)

8.60

4.60

3.20

3

Strike Impact (Albarado)

6.80

4.60

4

Rahystrada (Kuntzweiler)

4.00

* Pick 3 (3-11-5) 3 Correct $237.00 * Daily Double (11-5) $78.20 * Exacta (5-3) $38.60 * Superfecta (5-3-4-2) $1,013.20 * Trifecta (5-3-4) $215.00

TENTH-1 1/16m; $16,000; cl($5,000); 4up

5

Red Wine (Borel)

10.00

5.20

3.00

7

Steve's Rvng (Bthncourt)

18.40

6.00

1

Very Fair (Cruz)

2.80

Scr: Rough Stock, Indy Ride.

* Pick 6 (5/6-8-3-11-5-5) 5 Correct $605.00 * $0.5 Pick 5 (8-3-11-5-5) 5 Correct $2,456.75 * Pick 4 (3-11-5-5) 4 Correct $2,916.80 * Pick 3 (11-5-5) 3 Correct $532.80 * Trifecta (5-7-1) $938.00 * Daily Double (5-5) $59.80 * Exacta (5-7) $254.60 * Superfecta (5-7-1-2) $4,518.80

Attendance unavailable.

Trifecta, Daily Double

Nypost.com

KABUL—Afghan President Hamid Karzai struck a nationalistic tone Thursday in explaining his signing of a strategic pact with the United States, saying that Washington had bowed to many of his demands.

Mr. Karzai said the Strategic Partnership Agreement signed Tuesday evening in Kabul met several of Afghanistan's tough conditions, and highlighted that it forbids the U.S. from attacking other countries from the bases it may retain here after the bulk of foreign troops withdraw in 2014.

The address from the presidential palace in Kabul, Mr. Karzai's first extended remarks to the Afghan people after signing the deal, was calculated to convey his strength in front of a domestic audience, diplomats and analysts said. But his tough line, which he has often taken at key points in the Afghan-U.S. relationship, is unlikely to endear him to the U.S. Congress, which will help determine future funding levels for Afghan security forces.

Mr. Karzai expressed gratitude for the decade of U.S. and international assistance to Afghanistan. He also said he hoped the U.S. Congress would back the agreement. But alluded to friction between the Afghan government and U.S. lawmakers who have said too much power is concentrated in the hands of the Afghan president and have advocated for a more decentralized government. "The intention of some congressmen is clear to the people of Afghanistan," he said.

Mr. Karzai presented himself as a tough negotiator who had laid out essential "preconditions" for the signing of the strategic agreement. He said the U.S. yielded ground in negotiations on hot-button issues such as the detention Afghan citizens and night raids by U.S. special operations forces.

"Our fundamental conditions were that the U.S. forces must not have the permission to run prisons...they must not be allowed to arrest Afghans, they must not be allowed to enter Afghan homes," he said. "These were our preconditions in order to enter into this strategic agreement."

The president also highlighted the Afghan government's desire to eventually disband military-led provincial reconstruction teams, organizations that Afghan officials say have undermined the effectiveness of local and provincial governments. The partnership deal calls for the sides to work to disband "parallel structures," shorthand for the civil-military teams.

Mr. Karzai said Thursday he had turned down an invitation to sign the document—which outlines the relationship between the two countries for the decade after most troops pull out in 2014—at a ceremony in the U.S. It was signed on a surprise visit by President Barack Obama to Afghanistan.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton "called me and sent an invitation to me to visit America for the signing of this agreement," Mr. Karzai said. "But with due respect I said that they should come to Afghanistan so that we sign this agreement here in Afghanistan."

U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan Ryan Crocker told reporters that the signing of the agreement on Afghan soil "was very important to President Obama" because it was "a symbol of respect to Afghanistan." The State Department didn't immediately respond to a request for comment on the timing of the invitation.

Mr. Karzai said the pact cemented Afghanistan's stature as a fully sovereign state that could negotiate on equal terms with the U.S., a point he emphasized in direct remarks to Taliban insurgents, whom he addressed as "brothers" and fellow countrymen.

"Afghanistan is now a dignified country," he said. "I call on you to come to Afghanistan, join the peace process and strengthen the nation of Afghanistan."

U.S. officials have acknowledged direct talks with the Taliban, but say a key part of those talks—a deal to open a Taliban office in Qatar—had stalled. Mr. Obama has said the Taliban must break with al Qaeda, renounce violence and respect the Afghan constitution.

The pact sets the stage for additional bilateral security negotiations, which Mr. Karzai said would be "tough."

A Western diplomat said Mr. Karzai was "walking a fine line," asserting himself as a national leader, while continuing dialogue with the U.S. and international backers.

While both Mr. Obama and Mr. Karzai must fine-tune their remarks for domestic audiences, the diplomat said, "one is running for office and another is running for survival."

Omar Sharifi, an independent Afghan analyst, said Mr. Karzai's remarks on the strategic pact were intended largely for domestic consumption.

"The president wants to convey that he sees this as his lasting legacy and he wants to present it to the Afghan public." he said. "It's not directed at the Americans. It's to the Afghans, and the message is, 'I achieved it.'"

—Dion Nissenbaum contributed to this article.

SmartMoney Glossary:

Afghan President Hamid Karzai, Afghanistan, Afghanistan, President Barack Obama, President Obama, Karzai, Strategic Partnership Agreement

Online.wsj.com

Roger Goodell finally came down on some of the players involved in the Saints’ Bountygate scandal yesterday, but they’re not going quietly.

Middle linebacker Jonathan Vilma received the harshest penalty of the four players punished by the NFL’s commissioner for his role in the cash-for-injuries scheme, a one-year suspension without pay that the former Jet — backed by the NFL Players Association — quickly and angrily vowed to fight.

Former Saints defensive players Anthony Hargrove (eight games) and Scott Fujita (three games) and current New Orleans defensive end Will Smith (four games) also were suspended without pay by Goodell, but Vilma was deemed the guiltiest party among the players.

Getty Images

SACKED: Saints linebackers Jonathan Vilma (51) and Will Smith were among those who were suspended yesterday by the NFL for Bountygate. Vilma was banned one year while Smith got four games.

The league said Vilma helped create the bounty system in 2009 with disgraced ex-Saints defensive coordinator Gregg Williams and then pledged $10,000 to any teammate that injured Kurt Warner or Brett Favre in the playoffs that season.

All four players can appeal the penalties, but Goodell gave them just 72 hours to do so. And since the commissioner has the final say, the chances of having them lessened appear nil.

Vilma, however, fired back immediately and indicated he plans to take the league to court — a seemingly dubious strategy, in light of the collective bargaining agreement — after first hearing of his punishment on television.

“Roger Goodell has refused to share any of the supposed evidence he claims supports this unprecedented punishment,” Vilma said in a statement released yesterday afternoon. “The reason is clear: I never paid, or intended to pay, $10,000, or any amount of money, to any player for knocking Kurt Warner, Brett Favre or any other player out of the 2009 Divisional playoff game, 2010 NFC Championship Game or any other game.

“I never set out to intentionally hurt any player and never enticed any teammate to intentionally hurt another player,” Vilma said. “I also never put any money into a bounty pool or helped to create a bounty pool intended to pay out money for injuring other players. I intend to fight this injustice, defend my reputation and . . . send a clear signal to the commissioner that the process has failed, to the detriment of me, my teammates, the New Orleans Saints and the game.”

Vilma and the players will have the full backing of the union, which also blasted a decision Goodell obviously labored over after announcing punishment for the Saints’ franchise and team executives involved more than a month ago.

NFLPA boss DeMaurice Smith, who did not cooperate with Goodell after Goodell tried to consult with him last month about player penalties, claimed the league acted on hearsay despite hiring a former federal prosecutor to review the evidence and assess the fairness of the punishment.

“After seeing the NFL’s decision letters, the NFLPA has still not received any detailed or specific evidence from the league of these specific players’ involvement in an alleged pay-to-injure program,” Smith said in a statement released by the union. “We have made it clear that punishment without evidence is not fair. We have spoken with our players and their representatives, and we will vigorously protect and pursue all options on their behalf.”

Hargrove (now with the Packers) submitted a signed declaration to league investigators that he knew of the scheme and participated in it, but Fujita (now with the Browns) and Smith both denied paying for injuries. All of them vowed to fight their penalties along with Vilma.

Despite their harshness, the small number of player suspensions -– four -- was curious because the NFL said upon revealing its investigation nearly two months ago that between 22 and 27 players participated in it.

The scandal already has cost the Saints the services of coach Sean Payton for the entire 2012 season, as well as a $500,000 fine and the loss of two second-round draft picks. GM Mickey Loomis was suspended eight games and assistant head coach Joe Vitt banned for six games, while Williams was suspended indefinitely and his NFL coaching future put in jeopardy.

bhubbuch@nypost.com

Jonathan Vilma, Roger Goodell, Roger Goodell, Will Smith, NFL, NFL Players Association, NFL, Kurt Warner, Brett Favre, Saints, New Orleans Saints, defensive coordinator Gregg Williams, Scott Fujita, the Saints, Anthony Hargrove, commissioner, New Orleans

Nypost.com

Baseball

12:30 p.m.

Rangers at Blue Jays MLBN

2 p.m.

Mets at Astros SNY, WFAN (660 AM)

7 p.m.

Orioles at Yankees YES, WCBS (880 AM)

7 p.m.

Cubs at Reds WGN

NBA Playoffs: First Round

7 p.m.

Jazz at Spurs, Game 2 TNT

7:30 p.m.

Pacers at Magic, Game 3 NBATV

9:30 p.m.

Clippers at Grizzlies, Game 2 TNT

NHL Playoffs: Conf. Semis

7:30 p.m.

Rangers at Capitals, Game 3
NBCSN, ESPN (98.7 FM)

9 p.m.

Coyotes at Predators, Game 3 CNBC

Soccer

2:30 p.m.

Newcastle United at Chelsea FSC

Horse Racing

12:45 p.m.

Churchill Ch. 71

12:50 p.m.

Belmont Ch. 71

Blue Jays, Astros SNY, WFAN, WCBS, Spurs, Grizzlies, ESPN, Capitals

Nypost.com

Ogechukwu Uwanaka had interest from low Division I schools. Maya Wasowicz had looks from Division IIs.

Yet within the last week, both of them committed to Division III institutions to play women’s college basketball. This wasn’t some failure by either of them or their Baseline travel program. Uwanaka and Wasowicz just made two independent decisions based on the same reasoning.

“People asked me why didn’t I go D-I or D-II,” Uwanaka said. “Why would I? I was looking at the school first and the division second. I guess people get too caught up in names.”

Lauren Marsh

Beacon's Maya Wasowicz committed to NYU on Tuesday.

Uwanaka will play next year at Williams College, one of the top liberal arts school in the country, in Williamstown, Mass. Wasowicz, who committed Tuesday, takes her talents to nearby NYU, another high-level academic school.

“They’re both smart young ladies and they didn’t get caught up in the Division I, Division II, let-me-get-a-scholarship mentality,” Baseline coach Tomas Baez said. “They always saw basketball as a way to open doors and give them opportunities and that’s what it did.”

Uwanaka, an athletic, 5-foot-11 star from Morrisania, had low Division I and Division II interest. But her final three schools were all Division III: Williams, NYU and Amherst. She wants to go pre-med and plans on majoring in biology. Uwanaka, originally from Nigeria, is a rebounding machine and an excellent defender with an offensive game that is still growing.

“She’s so athletic and her work ethic is tremendous,” Baez said.

Beacon’s Wasowicz had her heart set on NYU almost immediately after she and her parents moved to the Lower East Side from Poland. She found out last week that she was eligible for the HEOP financial aid package, allowing her to go to the elite university almost for free. Wasowicz, a skilled 5-foot-9 wing, chose NYU over New Paltz.

“The coaches loves her because of her toughness,” Baez said of Wasowicz, who is also a karate champion. “She’s so versatile, she can play the perimeter and go down in the post and post up girls even bigger than her. She’s gonna definitely get bigger. She has the mental and physical toughness to really do well.”

Proximity also played a role for Wasowicz, who plans on majoring in public health. Her family and friends can watch her play at the West Village school anytime they want. Uwanaka, who also is getting a large financial aid package, loved the Williams campus. The backbone of each of their decisions was academics, though.

“After four years, we’re kind of done with basketball,” Uwanaka said. “Why not put yourself in a position that we’ll have a good job in four years? We focused on our career and had basketball second.”

Baez couldn’t be more pleased. He’s had Division I players in the past, but this, he says, is just as good.

“I’m proud of them, because they basically achieved what everyone else is trying to achieve,” Baez said. “Everyone wants to play in college, get a good education and basically go to school for free. That’s what they’re both doing.”

mraimondi@nypost.com

Maya Wasowicz, NYU, Ogechukwu Uwanaka, Division III, basketball, basketball, Division III institutions

Nypost.com

Hedge-fund manager David Einhorn smoked some herb yesterday.

The noted short-seller sent shares of Herbalife, the nutritional supplement and weight-loss product manufacturer, tumbling more than 26 percent after he asked management in a conference call about changes in the way that the company discloses its sales practices.

Specifically, Einhorn asked how much of Herbalife sales were made by its distributors and how they are compensated.

“Is that something you stopped tracking or just stopped disclosing?” asked Einhorn.

No sooner were the words out of Einhorn’s mouth than the stock cratered — falling from about $68 at around 11:30 a.m. to under $56 in less than 20 minutes.

After the stock tumbled, Herbalife tried quickly to repair any damage.

“Mr. Einhorn’s questions raised no new subjects or concerns,” the company said in a statement later in the day. “They were elementary questions usually asked by investors new to our industry.”

The company, based in the Cayman Islands, said the rapid sell-off represents a “buying opportunity.”

Herbalife has been on a tear over the past three years, skyrocketing off a low of $7 in March 2009. Shares had been up 56 percent over the past year before yesterday’s decline.

Herbalife shares closed at $56.30, down 19.9 percent after a late-day rally.

Bullish analysts also came out in defense of Herbalife. D.A. Davidson analyst Timothy Ramey told Dow Jones that the stock plunge is “a major buying opportunity,” and maintained his $90 price target.

Einhorn, through a spokesman, would not say whether he is shorting Herbalife. He declined further comment.

To be sure, Einhorn is known for often asking questions on investor calls.

The 43-year-old investor, who runs $7.7 billion Greenlight Capital, is known for attacking balance sheets to take short bets on such companies as Lehman Brothers and, more recently, Green Mountain Coffee Roasters.

Herbalife is also battle-tested. It has knocked heads with regulators and disgruntled distributors in the past.

The company, with $3.5 billion in revenues in 2011, sells its supplements through a controversial multi-level marketing program.

Before Einhorn’s questions, Herbalife was announcing its best quarterly results in 32 years — net income rose 23 percent, to $108.2 million, on a sales gain of 21 percent.

Greenlight’s hedge fund gained 7 percent after fees in the first quarter, following a 3 percent gain in 2011.

mcelarier@nypost.com

David Einhorn, Herbalife

Nypost.com